To help tackle air pollution, a problem for both China and the world, Chinese scientists from the China Institute of Atomic Energy have been using their own developed single-stage accelerator mass spectrometry device to trace the sources of smog in recent years.

Based on isotopic information which measured with these devices, the sources and proportions of various pollutants in smog can be determined, which provide scientific data for air pollution control.

For example, scientists can determine how much of the pollution comes from fossil sources such as coal or gas versus nonfossil sources. Multi-isotopic analysis also allows scientists to further analyze the accurate sources of smog.