A Comprehensive Review of Aerosol Research in China (1980-2024): Source-to-Mechanism-Impact Dynamics Revealed through Literature Mining and AI-Powered Analysis

A systematic review of aerosol research in China provides a valuable framework for understanding how aerosol science has evolved alongside growing concerns about air quality, climate change, and human health. Drawing on an AI-assisted bibliometric synthesis of more than 6,000 Web of Science - indexed publications (1980 - 2024), this review maps the thematic evolution of aerosol research in China. The literature reveals a clear transition from localized, pollution-centric investigations to a highly coordinated, nationwide research ecosystem. Early studies centered on coal smoke and primary particulate sources have progressively given way to research on PM2.5, secondary aerosol formation, and their complex interactions across atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, and exposure pathways. Five overarching thematic shifts define this evolution. First, source apportionment methodologies have expanded from traditional receptor models to include advanced applications of positive matrix factorization (PMF) and rapidly growing machine-learning approaches. Second, understanding of aerosol formation mechanisms has moved beyond inorganic-dominated paradigms toward concepts of organic–inorganic coupling and multi-process interactions. Third, assessments of environmental effects have broadened from physicochemical characterization to integrated, system-level analyses. Fourth, research on climate impacts has progressed from direct radiative forcing to encompass aerosol–cloud interactions and Earth system feedbacks. Finally, health-related studies have shifted from mass-based statistical associations to mechanistic frameworks linking toxic components, biological pathways, and multi-organ effects. By synthesizing these developments, this review identifies key knowledge gaps, methodological challenges, and emerging frontiers at the interface of atmospheric science, climate dynamics, and public health. It highlights the need for deeper system integration, long-term observations, and policy-relevant research to support national and global sustainability agendas, including “Beautiful China,” the “Dual Carbon Goals,” and “Healthy China.