Vehicular Emissions Monitoring In Selected Areas of Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Present study was conducted to assess the air pollution level caused by vehicular emissions in the selected areas of capital city Islamabad. Four hundred eighty (480) vehicles based on fuel types (Petrol, CNG and Diesel) were tested in collaboration of Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) for four main toxic pollutants i.e., CO, NOx, CO2 and Hydrocarbons at eight various locations within the Islamabad city. Opacity was analyzed for diesel vehicles, the measured values of these parameters are compared with NEQS. Highest Hydrocarbons (HC) are emitting from CNG fuel (i.e., 1818 ppm/vehicle) following petrol with (311ppm/vehicle) value. Petrol is emitting highest CO with 2.3% by vol. per vehicle. Diesel vehicles were found with highest NOx emissions as 320 ppm/vehicle. Smoke opacity was tested 160 (One hundred sixty) from diesel vehicles out of which 53 exceeds the NEQS limit (40 HSU). The results from data analysis indicate that current situation of vehicular emission in Islamabad is highly unsatisfactory and there is a need to form strategies which could later be adopted at a national level. Fuel quality, traffic congestion, vehicles poor maintenance etc were the found responsible factors. This work shall be helpful in developing awareness about existing air quality awareness in Islamabad among the stakeholders like public, environment protection agencies, local governments & traffic police; it will help concerned corners in fine tuning current activities to control this menace, their impact on air quality and to reduce air pollution in the major cities of Pakistan.