Spray dust reduction is widely used in dust pollution control. The spray effect directly affects dust reduction efficiency, hence it is important to understand spray atomization and differential characteristics for typical water-based dust reduction media: tap water, magnetized water, surfactant solution, and magnetized surfactant solution. This study selected five measuring points 10, 15, 20, 25, and 40 cm from the nozzle to measure spray velocity and droplet size using a Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer at 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 MPa. The results shown that the spray velocity of the other three media was generally larger than that of tap water. From 20 cm to 25 cm, the spray velocity of magnetized water and surfactant solution water decreased rapidly, with 35.53% and 49.78% reduction, respectively. The droplet size of tap water spray at 40 cm increased, whereas the sprays of other water-based media continuously decreased. The change amplitude of Sauter mean diameter (D-32) was lower trend with pressure. Magnetized surfactant solution maintained the largest ratio of particles <60 mu m at 2.0 MPa. This study provides significant guidance for spray dust reduction. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.