Blockchain-based isotopic big data-driven tracing of global PM sources and interventions
Tracing sources and assessing intervention effectiveness are crucial for controlling atmospheric particulate matter (PM) pollution. Isotopic techniques enable precise top-down tracing, but the absence of long-term, global-scale multi-compound isotopic data limits comprehensive analysis. Here, we establish a blockchain-based isotopic database, compiling 34,815 isotopic fingerprints of global PM and its emissions from 1,890 pollution events across 66 countries. This allows retrospective analysis and predictions, revealing that PM sources are distinct, dynamically changing over time, and often asynchronous with interventions. Additionally, we estimate source contributions to PM<sub>2.5</sub> and its compounds, highlighting the increasing impact of biomass burning. Furthermore, projections indicate that by 2100, PM levels may decline to 5.38 ± 0.16 μg/m³ in the Americas and 13.9 ± 1.82 μg/m³ in Asia under climate mitigation scenarios but will still exceed WHO guidelines without further controls on natural emissions. Guiding future interventions with isotopic big data is essential for addressing air pollution challenges.
Authors
- Chaoyang Xue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6673-7716)
- Yongfeng Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0307-3531)
- Yuming Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7775-6787)
- Xian Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5398-4707)
- Dawei Lü (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8128-6367)
- Greg Michalski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4032-3931)
- Wei Nie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6048-0515)
- Jiashuo Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2915-4770)
- Zheng Zong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3666-6539)
- Qian Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8525-7961)
- Jingwei Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9973-7771)
- Xiangyu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5810-027X)
- Yuehan Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8000-9941)
- Guibin Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6335-3917)
Institutions
- Shandong University (CN)
- Yunnan University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- Jianghan University (CN)
- Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research (CN)
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (DE)
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Nanjing University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-04-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59220-4
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.11
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences