Personal Cars and China (2003) / Chapter Skim
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7. Environment and Health
7. Environment and Health
Pages 150-168
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From page 150... ...
air tonics, which usually are found in smaller amounts in the atmosphere but can have important effects on public health. The gaseous and particulate pollutants to which motor vehicles contribute include carbon monoxide (CO)
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From page 151... ...
, and for some pollutants for example, carbon monoxide, ultrafine particles (PMo it, and 1,3-butadiene motor vehicles tend to be the dominant source. Although motor vehicles contribute a significant portion, if not the largest part, of most air pollutants, in certain circumstances they can contribute a substantially higher amount to personal exposure.
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From page 152... ...
In particular, clinical health studies have shown that people suffering from angina pectoris and exposed to elevated levels of ambient carbon monoxide experience angina pain more quickly than usual. Healthy people also are affected, but only at higher levels.
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VOCs are emitted from a variety of sources, including motor vehicles, chemical plants, refineries, factories, consumer and commercial products, and other industrial sources. VOCs also are emitted by natural sources 3 Carbon monoxide also participates in the production of ozone, albeit at a much slower rate than most VOC and NOx compounds.
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U.S. EPA has classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen based on limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animal studies using rats, mice, ham
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. The key health effects associated with particulate matter include premature death; aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, as indicated by increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, school absences, lost work days, and restricted activity days; changes in lung function and increased respiratory symptoms; changes to lung tissues and structure; and altered respiratory defense mechanisms (U.S.
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The fine fraction contains acid aerosols, sulfates, nitrates, transition metals, diesel exhaust particles, and ultrafine particles, and the coarse fraction typically contains high mineral concentrations, silica, and suspended dust. Exposure to coarse fraction particles is primarily associated with the aggravation of respiratory conditions such as asthma.
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From page 157... ...
reported relative risks of less than 1.0 the fact that an increased risk has been consistently noted in the majority of epidemiological studies strongly supports the determination that exposure to diesel exhaust is likely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans. Additional evidence that supports treating diesel exhaust as a carcinogen at ambient levels of exposure is provided by the observation of small quantities of many mutagenic and some carcinogenic compounds in the diesel exhaust.
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Although they do not have a direct global warming effect, several gases do influence the formation and destruction of ozone, which has a terrestrial radiation-absorbing effect. These gases include carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs)
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The greenhouse gases most closely identified with the transportation sector include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane (see Table 7-1 for the global warming potential of nitrous oxide and methane relative to carbon dioxide)
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have noted, "Black carbons reduces aerosol albedo, causes a semi-direct reduction of cloud cover, and reduces cloud particle albedo" (Hansen et al., 2001~. Tight control of diesel particulate emissions would reduce their negative greenhouse effect and allow full greenhouse benefits from the CO2 advantage that diesels provide.
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Moreover, CO and NOX concentrations on the urban trunk traffic roads and interchanges exceed national environmental quality standards year-round (Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau et al., 1999~. National air quality standards for particulates also are frequently exceeded primarily because of coal and charcoal burning.
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Because the amount of coal burning has remained stable for many years, Beijing local authorities attribute the increases to vehicular emissions (Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau et al., l999~. According to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, "In 2000, NOX emissions by motor vehicles accounted for 43% of the total and CO emissions, 83%.
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NOTE: THC = total hydrocarbons; CO = carbon monoxide; NOX= nitrogen oxides; PM = particulate matter; CH4 = methane; CO2 = carbon dioxide. SOURCE: Calculations by Michael P
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THC = total hydrocarbons; CO = carbon monoxide; NOX = nitrogen oxides; PM = particulate matter; CO2 = carbon dioxide. SOURCE: Calculations by Michael P
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Even if growth is constrained to the medium case, all pollutants but particulate matter are expected to increase, although if the light-duty diesel fleet grows significantly, particulates and nitrogen oxides will increase more and CO2 emissions will be lower. As a result, efforts to reduce vehicle emissions must continue, to avoid the concomitant impacts on public health and the environment.
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REFEREN CES Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, Beijing Municipal Public Security and Traffic Administration Bureau, and Beijing Urban Planning, Design and Research Academy.
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Project of China Environment Technological Assistance Loaned by the World Bank B-9-3.
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From page 168... ...
1995. Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide, Assessment of Scientific and Technical Information.
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