Characteristics of PM_(2.5) and Its Reactive Oxygen Species in Heating Energy Transition and Estimation of Its Impact on the Environment and Health in China——A Case Study in the Fenwei Plain

To reduce the adverse effects of traditional domestic solid fuel,the central government began implementing a clean heating policy in northern China in 2017.Clean coal is an alternative low-cost fuel for rural households at the present stage.In this study,18 households that used lump coal,biomass,and clean coal as the main fuel were selected to evaluate the benefits of clean heating transformation in Tongchuan,an energy city in the Fenwei Plain,China.Both indoor and personal exposure(PE)samples of fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5))were synchronically collected.Compared with the lump coal and biomass groups,the indoor PM_(2.5)concentration in the clean coal group is 43.6%and 20.0%lower,respectively,while the values are 16.8%and 21.3%lower,respectively,in the personal exposure samples.PM_(2.5)-bound elements Cd,Ni,Zn,and Mn strongly correlated with reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in all fuel groups,indicating that transition metals are the principal components to generate oxidative stress.Using a reliable estimation method,it is predicted that after the substitution of clean coal as a household fuel,the all-cause,cardiovascular,and respiratory disease that causes female deaths per year could be reduced by 16,6,and 3,respectively,in the lump coal group,and 22,8,and 3,respectively,in the biomass group.Even though the promotion of clean coal has led to impressive environmental and health benefits,the efficiencies are still limited.More environmental-friendly energy sources must be promoted in the rural regions of China.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the energy sector

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has had a considerable impact on every industrial sector.As a pillar of economic development,the energy sector is experiencing difficult times during the global pandemic.This paper reviews the impact of the pandemic on the global energy sector in terms of demand,price,employment,government policy,countermeasures,and academic research,and focuses on the two largest energy countries in the world:China and the United States.Although the virus has dramatically impacted the energy sector,action to address climate issues has not been suspended,but has become more urgent than ever.Experts have pointed out that it is time to promote the transition to clean energy vigorously.Thus,here we discuss progress towards clean energy transition,including bioenergy,mineral resources for clean energy techniques,batteries,and electrolyzers.The results indicate that supply chain stability,energy storage,and policymaking during the epidemic period and post-epidemic period are significant challenges for the transition to clean energy.However,the transition can also bring new opportunities for employment,economic recovery,and the human living environment.