May 02 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)
2008 study on polluting vehicles still relevant
New Delhi
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
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Ever wondered how polluting the trucks that pass through Delhi every night are. TOI revisited a 2008 study commissioned by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and executed by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), which found that the particulate matter (PM) emissions from diesel vehicles was about 24 times that of the petrol-run ones.The PM emissions from light commercial vehicles (LCVs) run on diesel were found to be 166 times the PM emissions from petrol passenger cars.The study was conducted for BS II vehicles but is relevant even now because most of the LCVs passing through Delhi continue to be BS II compliant. These are the more than 10-year-old vehicles, which will be off roads if the NGT ban is properly implemented. But even the new LCVs getting registered outside Delhi continue to be BS II and BS III compliant, which could further complicate the matter.
Of the 85,000-odd commercial vehicles that pass through Delhi--all nondestined for the city--a majority are BS II, admit transport officials.
“The vehicles may be new but they are still BS II complaint. That's because these vehicles are more easily available and cheaper,“ said the official.
The impact is clearly felt in the emission levels. BS II vehicles are decidedly less efficient when it comes to processing the fuel pollution.Sources say around 70-80% of the vehicles passing through Delhi are BS II. “Many a times, even if the vehicle is new, since it's BS II compliant, the emission levels are still high as compared to a BS III or BS IV vehicles,“ added the official.
The 2008 study also found that levels of polycyclic aro matic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from diesel LCVs were about 17 times that of PAH emissions from petrol cars. While the two engines of LCVs and cars may not be comparable, there is a huge health risk from such high PAH emissions.
According to toxipedia, a toxicology encyclopedia, “health effects from chronic or long-term exposure to PAHs may include decreased immune function, cataracts, kidney and liver damage (like jaundice), breathing problems, asthma-like symptoms, and lung function abnormalities. PAHs could also contain carcinogenic elements.
Even BS III trucks registered outside Delhi that pass through the city emit more than seven times the particulate matter (PM) than petrol.Plugging the entry of these vehicles can give the city considerable relief, experts said.
Daily bulletin on air quality of 8 cities
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday launched a daily bulletin service to highlight air quality index in eight cities namely Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Faridabad, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi.
The bulletin was launched on CPCB's website and will provide a comparative data of air quality index on a daily basis in the categories of moderate, satisfactory and poor, apart from giving the major pollutant in that particular area. The index will be calculated as an average of past 24 hours. It covers eight cities, which will be eventually increased, a senior ministry of environment, forests and climate change official said. According to Friday's bulletin, Delhi has the poorest air quality.
Of the 85,000-odd commercial vehicles that pass through Delhi--all nondestined for the city--a majority are BS II, admit transport officials.
“The vehicles may be new but they are still BS II complaint. That's because these vehicles are more easily available and cheaper,“ said the official.
The impact is clearly felt in the emission levels. BS II vehicles are decidedly less efficient when it comes to processing the fuel pollution.Sources say around 70-80% of the vehicles passing through Delhi are BS II. “Many a times, even if the vehicle is new, since it's BS II compliant, the emission levels are still high as compared to a BS III or BS IV vehicles,“ added the official.
The 2008 study also found that levels of polycyclic aro matic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from diesel LCVs were about 17 times that of PAH emissions from petrol cars. While the two engines of LCVs and cars may not be comparable, there is a huge health risk from such high PAH emissions.
According to toxipedia, a toxicology encyclopedia, “health effects from chronic or long-term exposure to PAHs may include decreased immune function, cataracts, kidney and liver damage (like jaundice), breathing problems, asthma-like symptoms, and lung function abnormalities. PAHs could also contain carcinogenic elements.
Even BS III trucks registered outside Delhi that pass through the city emit more than seven times the particulate matter (PM) than petrol.Plugging the entry of these vehicles can give the city considerable relief, experts said.
Daily bulletin on air quality of 8 cities
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday launched a daily bulletin service to highlight air quality index in eight cities namely Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Faridabad, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi.
The bulletin was launched on CPCB's website and will provide a comparative data of air quality index on a daily basis in the categories of moderate, satisfactory and poor, apart from giving the major pollutant in that particular area. The index will be calculated as an average of past 24 hours. It covers eight cities, which will be eventually increased, a senior ministry of environment, forests and climate change official said. According to Friday's bulletin, Delhi has the poorest air quality.
