Asian Journal of Engineering and Applied Technology (AJEAT)
Analysis of Traffic Related Environment Pollution in Indian Cities: Need of the Hour
Author : Ankit BansalVolume 7 No.1 January-June 2018 pp 70-73
Abstract
Urbanisation has led to rapid motorization and un-sustainable growth of transport infrastructure in developing countries like India. This increase in urban sprawl and heavy dependency on automobiles has caused high levels of air pollution. The emissions from road transport are partially responsible for ozone depletion, acid deposition and other climatic changes. In present scenario, the exhaust emissions of road traffic cause a lot of concern about the effects of air quality in urban areas on human health and the production of ozone in the troposphere. Central and State Governments have taken many corrective measures to reduce vehicle emissions. However, the development of scientific methods and rigorous emissions inventory is critical. Therefore, an attempt has been made to explore traffic control strategies to reduce emissions from road transport have been made. For the present study, pollutants are monitored outside for 24 hours (4-hourly sampling of gaseous pollutants like NOX and SOX and 8-hourly sampling of particulate matter) with frequency of two times a week in Jalandhar region in order to have 104 observations per year. The analysis of the data shows that the increase in the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) with every passing year and being almost double than the permissible limit. It has been observed that with no or less public transport, more loads has come down on private vehicles and auto rickshaws which lead to increase in traffic congestion and pollution. Hence, it is suggested to implement new strategies and an increase in public transport in order to reduce vehicular emissions.
Keywords
Air Pollution, Emissions, RSPM, NOX and SOX
Full Text:
References
[1] K. Adler, M. Grant and W. Schroeer, “Emissions Reduction Potential of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program: A Preliminary Assessment”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 1641, pp. 81–88, 1998.
[2] J. K. Affum, A. L. Brown and Y. C. Chan, “Integrating air pollution modelling with scenario testing in road transport planning: the TRAEMS approach”, Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 312, No. 3, pp. 1–14, 2003.
[3] W. Anderson, P. Kanaroglou, E. Miller and R. Buliung, “Simulating Automobile Emissions in an Integrated Urban Model”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 1520, pp. 71-80, 1996.
[4] M. Barth and K. Boriboonsomsin, “Real-World Carbon Dioxide Impacts of Traffic Congestion”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 2058, pp. 163–171, 2008.
[5] S. D. Beevers and D. C. Carslaw, “The impact of congestion charging on vehicle emissions in London”, Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 1–5, 2005.
[6] P. G. Boulter, T. J. Barlow, I. S.McCrae and S. Latham, (). Emissions factors 2009: Final summary report, Research report No. PPR361, 2009. UK Department for Transport. Retrieved from http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/emissions/#
[7] Environmental Protection Agency. “Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions”, 2017.
[8] M. Farzaneh, W. Schneider and J. Zietsman, “Field Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide Emissions at High Speeds”, In 89th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board. Washington, D.C, 2010.
[9] J.E. Girard, Principals of Environmental Chemistry, 2nd edn Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett, 2009.
[10] Indian Express Report. “Punjab’s Air Quality Index Report”, 2017. http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/as-punjabs-pollution-deteriorates-state-pollution-board-issues-instructions-for-green-diwali-4888245/
[11] IPCC 2014, “Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories”, IPCC, Switzerland, 2013.
[12] M.Z. Jacobson, “Atmospheric Pollution. Cambridge, UK”, Cambridge University Press, 2002.
[13] S.P. Mahendra and A.Krishnamurthy, “Impact of Road Traffic on Urban Air Quality”, In 84th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board. Washington, D.C, 2015.
[14] R. B. Noland and M. A. Quddus, “Flow improvements and vehicle emissions: Effects of trip generation and emission control technology”, Transportation Research Part D, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 1–14, 2006.
[15] R. B. Noland, and F. G. Stathopoulos, “Induced travel and emissions from traffic flow improvement projects”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 1842, pp. 57–63, 2003.
[16] S. Pandey, S. Singhal, P. Jaswal and M. Guliani, “Urban Environment. India Infrastructure Report”, Urban Infrastructure. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 208-231, 2006.
[17] J. Pucher, Z.R. Peng, N. Mittal, Y. Zhu, and N. Korattyswaroopam, “Urban Transport Trends and Policies in China and India: Impacts of Rapid Economic Growth”, Transport Review, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 379-410, 2007.
[18] B.P. Pundir, “Vehicular air pollution in India: Recent control measures and related issues”, India Infrastructure Report. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, pp. 260-263, 2001.
[19] Punjab Pollution Control Board, “Air Ambient Quality Standards”, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Punjab, 2017.
[20] B. Sengupta, “Strategies to reduce air pollution in India”, 2017. Available at http://www.jari.or.jp/Portals/0/resource/pdf/india 2009/Session4-3 E.pdf.
[21] R.P. Wayne, “Chemistry of Atmospheres”, 3rd edn., Oxford University Press, New York, 2000.
[22] World Health Organisation, Air Quality Standards, 2012.