The study looked at air quality in Nanning during a period of serious pollution in November 2012. They analyzed the levels of harmful particles like PM10 and PM2.5, as well as the main components of PM2.5. They found that particulate pollutants, especially organic matter and sulfate, were the main contributors to the pollution. The researchers also discovered that meteorological conditions, including air coming from Hunan, played a significant role in the pollution levels.