Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
(2009)
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Abstract
The city of Amritsar (Lat. 31° 37' 59'' and Long. 74° 51' 56'') is situated in the
State of Punjab in the north-western region of India. On account of increase in the
population over the years, there has been an incessant increase in the number of vehicles,
which is a serious cause of concern and ecological imbalance in the city. The road
transport has been a major source of urban air pollution in the town. The principal
vehicular pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOX), hydrocarbons
(HC), suspended particulate matter, a varying amount of sulphur dioxide and lead
compounds. The main objective of the present study was to compare emission of
pollutants viz. CO, HC and NOX for different vehicles like two-wheelers, three-wheelers,
four-wheelers (petrol) viz., cars/jeeps, and four-wheeler (diesel) vehicles in Amritsar. The
vehicular data was collected from District Transport Office, Amritsar for the years 2004-
2009. For the years 2004-2009 the total numbers of registered vehicles were: two
wheelers- 1,26,905, three wheelers- 4,390, four wheelers (petrol)- 28,901, and four
wheelers (diesel)- 7,191. Annual emission of pollutants (CO, HC and NOX) from
different vehicles was calculated by annual fuel consumption (tonnes/year) of respective
vehicle. The results of the study show that the total pollution load on the city per year for
CO is 4,534.33 tonnes/year, for HC is 2,428.45 tonnes/year and for NOX is 167.02
tonnes/year. CO and HC emissions due to two-wheelers were enormously high, that is
2,204.41 tonnes/year and 1,559.04 tonnes/year respectively. NOX emission due to four-
wheelers/diesel vehicles is 67.83 tonnes/year, which is low as compared to the CO and
HC emissions. Therefore two-wheelers contribute maximum amount of emission of CO
(49%) and HC (65%), among all the vehicles, thus revealing a high pollution load on the
city.
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1. Introduction
The city of Amritsar (Lat. 31° 37' 59'' and Long. 74° 51' 56'') is situated in the
State of Punjab in the north-western region of India. On account of increase in the
population over the years, there has been an incessant increase in the number of vehicles,
which is a serious cause of concern and ecological imbalance (Bignal et al, 2007) in the
city. The problem is being further aggravated by increasing migration from the
neighbouring states. The road transport has been a major source of urban air pollution
(Ramachandra et al, 2009) in the town. Both petrol and diesel engine vehicles contribute
to pollution. The Diesel engines pollutes air much less than petrol engines though both
engines are not very efficient converters of fuel energy, however, diesel engines with
efficiency of approximately 30% are more efficient and use a lesser amount of fuel than
petrol engines with 15-20% efficiency (Central Statistical Organization, 2009). The two
stroke engines pose serious air pollution problem from two- and three-wheeled vehicles
because two-stroke engines burn an oil–gasoline mixture and emit more smoke, carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter than the gas-only four-stroke engines
(Potera, 2004). The burning of fuels from both types of engines contributes to several
pollutants categorized as regulated (NOX, HC, CO and particulate matter) and
unregulated (SO2, CO2, methane, xylene, benzene, toluene, formaldehyde etc.) pollutants
(Agarwal, 2007). The regulated pollutants have limits prescribed by environmental
legislations, such as USEPA, EURO and BHARAT norms, whereas unregulated
pollutants have no prescribed limit by any legislation (Agarwal, 2007).
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because they perform a greater level of physical activity than adults, hence higher intake
of air means that more air pollutants enter the lungs and therefore children are more
vulnerable to chronic respiratory diseases (Salvi, 2007; Wichmann et al, 2009; Romieu et
al, 2008). The main objective of the study is to compare emission of pollutants namely
carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide for different vehicles like two
wheelers, three wheelers, cars/jeeps and four wheelers/diesel vehicles in Amritsar.
2. Methodology
For the study of air quality impact of different types of vehicles the following
methodology is used:
i. Collection of data for total registered vehicles form 2004-05 to 2008-09 from
District Transport Department, Amritsar.
ii. Categorizing data in vehicle types.
iii. Calculation of total fuel consumed by different categories of vehicles annually.
iv. Estimating the pollution contribution of different pollutants like CO, HC and NOX
annually.
v. Graphical representation of different types of vehicles for the pollution
contribution annually.
vi. Comparing the percentage contribution to pollution from 2004-05 to 2008-09.
The data for total number of registered vehicles from 2004-05 to 2008-09 is
obtained from District Transport Department, Amritsar as given in following Table 2.1:
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3 Tractors/Trailers 382 396 468 633 588
4 Other Vehicles 2 1 48 27 2
9 Govt. Vehicles 18 6 29 20 7
The data for registered vehicles is categorized into four types on the basis of
emission characteristics
1 Cars/Jeeps 240 31 16
4 Four Wheelers/Diesel 19 8 37
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The vehicles are categorized as follows:
The annual mileage of different vehicles given is in Table 2.4. The approximate annual
fuel consumption of vehicles is obtained as:
i. Cars/Jeeps
ii. Scooter/Motorcycle
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iv. Four Wheelers/Diesel
1 2 Wheelers 10,000
2 3 Wheelers 40,000
4 Taxis 30,000
7 Trucks 30,000
8 Buses 60,000
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Bar graphs are plotted to compare the pollution impact of different type of
vehicles for pollutant emission annually against the years.
The year wise pollutant (CO, HC and NOX) emission patterns of different types of
vehicles have been plotted revealing following observations.
3000
CO emission (tonnes/year)
2500
2000 Cars/Jeeps
Scooter/Motor Cycle
1500
Three Wheelers
1000 Four Wheelers/Diesel
500
0
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Years
8
2000
HC emission (tonnes/year)
1800
1600
1400 Cars/Jeeps
1200
Scooter/Motor Cycle
1000
800 Three Wheelers
600 Four Wheelers/Diesel
400
200
0
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Years
NOX emission pattern among different vehicle types: The emission patterns of
NOX have been plotted in fig. 3.3. The observed repeated peaks within each year
reveal that NOX emission is enormously high from four wheeler/diesel vehicles.
1200
1000
NOx emission (tonnes/year)
800
Cars/Jeeps
Scooter/Motor Cycle
600
Three Wheelers
Four Wheelers/Diesel
400
200
0
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Years
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3.2. Percentage Contribution of Pollutants from Vehicles during 2004 to 2009:
The percentage contribution made by each type of vehicle category is shown in figs.
3.4, 3.5 and 3.6. The following observations can be drawn from the figures:
Cars/jeeps contribute 22%, 5% and 41% of total emission of CO, HC and NOX
respectively.
Percentage of CO Emission
9%
22%
20% Cars/Jeeps
Scooter/Motor Cycle
Three Wheelers
Four Wheelers/Diesel
49%
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Percentage of HC Emission
7% 5%
23% Cars/Jeeps
Scooter/Motor Cycle
Three Wheelers
Four Wheelers/Diesel
65%
41% Cars/Jeeps
47% Scooter/Motor Cycle
Three Wheelers
Four Wheelers/Diesel
4% 8%
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3.3. Comparison of Pollutant Emission among Vehicle during 2004 to 2009:
Fig. 3.7 shows the pattern of comparison of pollutant emission, to reveal the
pollutant load impact on air quality. The observed peaks clearly reveal that the total
pollution load on the city per year for CO is 4,534.33 tonnes/year, for HC is 2,428.45
tonnes/year and for NOX is 167.02 tonnes/year the two-wheelers substantially cause
impact on air quality emitting heavy load of CO and HC having emission of 2,204.41
tonnes/year and 1,559.04 tonnes/year respectively. The observed figure 3.7 reveals that
even though NOX emission is high from four-wheeler/diesel vehicles having 67.83
tonnes/year emission but still comparative impact of NOX is very low with respect to CO
and HC emission from two-wheelers.
12000
10000
Pollutant (tonnes)
8000
CO
6000 HC
NOx
4000
2000
0
Cars/Jeeps Scooter/Motor Three Wheelers Four
Cycle Wheelers/Diesel
Vehicle Type
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4. Conclusion
The results of the study show that the total pollution load on the city per year for
CO is 4,534.33 tonnes/year, for HC is 2,428.45 tonnes/year and for NOX is 167.02
tonnes/year. CO and HC emissions due to two-wheelers were enormously high, that is
2,204.41 tonnes/year and 1,559.04 tonnes/year respectively. NOX emission due to four-
wheelers/diesel vehicles is 67.83 tonnes/year, which is low as compared to the CO and
HC emissions. Therefore two-wheelers contribute maximum amount of emission of CO
(49%) and HC (65%), among all the vehicles, thus revealing a high pollution load on the
city. In two-wheelers two-stroke engines burn an oil–gasoline mixture therefore they emit
more smoke, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter than the gas-only
four-stroke engines. To make matter worse, the vehicles are seen carrying more number
of passengers than their designated limit. Three-wheelers top the list by carrying double
and sometime triple the designated load and in addition burn kerosene oil instead of
diesel and petrol. The vehicle is not designed for extra weight and thus the engine burns
even dirtier. Though, it is justified to say that pollutants are increasing due to the increase
in the number of vehicles. But it may be attributed to the relaxed attitude of controlling
authorities, if not laws alone. When a vehicle is manufactured it needs emission
standards, but once out on the road the actual emission of the vehicle is expected to
deteriorate every year by a certain percent. So one can clearly understand that use of old
vehicles contribute to pollution more than new ones. Therefore for the efficient control of
vehicular pollution, where laws and authorities concerned should function in an efficient
way, the responsibility of an individual or a common citizen cannot be over looked. Thus
dealing with the problem of vehicular pollution, awareness among common citizen and
strict implementation of laws by authority, may prove to be an effective measure.
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