• What is Vehicular Pollution?

  Environmental Pollution by vehicles is caused due to tail-pipe exhaust emissions depending on changes in driving cycles, engine condition, fuel composition and air/ fuel ratio. Malfunction of engine devices, especially fuel injection system, increases the emissions of the main exhaust components. Vehicular emissions consist of Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxide, unburnt hydrocarbons including lead, particulate matter etc.

• How do these affect Health?
  
  • Carbon Monoxide

    Inhaling of Carbon monoxide hinders Oxygen supply from blood into the tissues, as it combines with the Iron in haemoglobin, leading to variety of ailments, viz. Cancer.

  • Particulate Matter

    Particulate matter of size varying from 0.2 to 10 micron, if inhaled, can go directly into lungs causing bronchial problems and allergic asthma.

  • Lead

    Lead attacks the blood, kidneys, and the central nervous system. It can cause anaemia, kidney failure, permanent brain damage and finally death also.

  • Nitrogen Oxide

    Nitrogen oxide causes formation of smog.

  • Carbon Dioxide

    Carbon dioxide causes environmental problems related to global warming.

• What are sources of vehicular pollution?
  • The Engine Crankcase

    The accumulation of unburnt and partly burnt gasoline, combustion gases and water in the crankcase due to faulty piston rings etc., may cause serious engine problems leading to emission of pollutants.

  • The Exhaust system

    The emissions from exhaust system mainly depend upon composition of fuel.

  • The Carburettor and Fuel tank

    The carburettor and fuel tank, if kept open, may cause air pollution due to evaporation of gasoline.

  • Incomplete combustion

    The incomplete combustion process leads to formation of CO and partly burnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases.

  • Varying Air/ Fuel Ratios

    If the mixture contains lesser fuel, it will burn poorly and if it contains more fuel, some of it will not burn. In both the cases there will be unburnt fuel coming out with the exhaust gases.

• What options are available to reduce vehicular pollution?

  A few common technological options to reduce vehicular pollution are given below:

  • Modification of engine design
  • Thermal reactors for CO & HC oxidation
  • Exhaust gas re-circulation
  • Catalytic converter
  • Use of particle traps
  • Use of unleaded gasoline
  • Use of low sulphur diesel
  • Use of low smoke lube oil for 2 stroke and mixed lubricating engines
  • Use of alternate and cleaner fuels (viz. CNG, LPG, Methanol)
  • Adopting stricter emission standards
  • Reducing traffic congestion
  • Implementation of strict inspection and maintenance program

• What are the current Indian Emission standards?

  With effect from 1st April 1996, emission standards are as under

  • For Gasoline driven vehicles (based on cubic capacity)

    CO: 8.68 to 12.40 gm/km
    HC+NOx: 3.00 to 4.36 gm/km
    CO% Vol., at idle: 3%

  • For Diesel driven vehicles (Gross vehicle weight < 3500kg and cold start):

    CO: 5.0 to 9.0 gm/km
    HC+NOx: 2.0 to 4.0 gm/km
    Particulate matter: No norms.
    Smoke density: 65%

  • PUC check:

    PUC (Pollution Under Control) check needs to be performed on all vehicles initially one year after its first registration and thereafter once in every six months as per Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. During PUC test, only the following parameters are measured:
    Gasoline driven 2/3 wheelers: CO < 4.5% by vol., during idling.
    Gasoline driven 4 wheelers: CO < 3.0% by vol., during idling.
    Diesel driven vehicles: Smoke density < 65% by vol., during both idling & high speed.

• What are Euro I and Euro II emission norms?

  Euro I and Euro II are European Union (EU) emission norms. These are norms for emission from automobile exhaust, and relate mainly to design of automobile engines.

  • Euro I - Gasoline driven vehicles

    CO: 2.72 gm/km
    HC + NOx: 0.97 gm/km
    CO % Vol at idle: 3
    Diesel driven vehicles
    CO: 2.72 gm/km
    HC+ NOx: 0.97 gm/km
    Particulate matter: 0.14 gm/km

  • Euro II - Gasoline driven vehicles

    Gasoline driven vehicles
    CO: 2.20 gm/km
    HC + NOx: 0.50 gm/km
    Diesel driven vehicles
    CO: 1.00 gm/km
    HC+ NOx: 0.70 gm/km
    Particulate matter: 0.08 gm/km

  From the above data, it can be observed that, there is substantial reduction in emission, as per EU norms compared to existing Indian standards.

• What are changes required in engine design to switch over to Euro I and Euro II?

  Requisite changes in engine design at a glance are as under:

  • For meeting Euro I, existing carburettor will be replaced by multi-point fuel injection system.
  • Compliance of vehicles with Euro I or Euro II norms will be approved by State transport department based on tests and self-certification by respective Automobile manufacturers.

    Compliance of vehicles with Euro I or Euro II norms will be approved by State transport department based on tests and self-certification by respective Automobile manufacturers.

• Does it need any changes in fuel composition?

The fuel quality specifications relating to Euro I / II pertain to specific reference fuel (see table below) to be used for testing automobiles and do not pertain to any commercial fuel, currently being produced in the country. Logically, any modification in fuel composition should not be imperative to meet Euro I / II norms.

Salient features of specifications of reference fuels for petrol and diesel driven engines are given below:

• Will implementation of Euro I and Euro II norms add to vehicle cost?

Unconfirmed sources indicate that manufacturing cost of vehicles would go up by around Rs.12, 000 per vehicle. But, it appears, in most of the cases, this cost may be absorbed by the vehicle manufacturer to remain competitive.