The benefits of the ultra-low emission retrofit (ULER) in Suzhou’s iron and steel industry in 2023 were evaluated in this study. Following the retrofits, annual emissions of SO2, NOx, and PM declined by 66.67%, 65.64%, and 53.48%, respectively, with substantial reductions in key processes such as sintering, coking, and blast furnace ironmaking. Evaluated by the mesoscale atmospheric chemical model WRF-Chem, the average concentrations of SO2, NO2, PM2.5 and PM10 in Suzhou and its surrounding urban agglomerations decreased by 5.02%, 1.83%, 5.16% and 5.06% respectively, while O3 levels increased slightly by 0.93%. Suzhou exhibited the largest reductions in SO2 and NO2 concentrations, whereas the most significant decreases in PM2.5 and PM10occurred in Taizhou. Given that PM2.5 pollution in China is the most severe in winter, the exposure-response relationship function was used to quantify the health benefits. The total number of premature deaths due to PM2.5 pollution from all causes, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases was reduced by 105 (95%CI: 88~122), 31 (27~36) and 12 (10~14) respectively. Geographically, the reductions in premature mortality showed a pattern of "higher in the north and lower in the south"; Nantong achieved the greatest health gain, with premature deaths from all causes reduced by 24 (15~32).
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |