Vehicle Emissions Reduction

Vehicles emit large quantities of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other toxic substances such as particle matter (PM) and lead.

Major air pollutants are

• Lead (Pb) and lead scavengers
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
• Ozone (O₃)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
• Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5)
• Air toxics (e.g. benzene, 1,3-butadiene)

These emissions tend to be geographically concentrated and are difficult to disperse. Many people live and work close to traffic, including vulnerable groups such as the young and the old. As the quantity of vehicle emissions increases, the quality of air deteriorates. This is aggravated by the rise in the number of motorized 2- and 3-wheeled vehicles, common in the region, and the proliferation of under-maintained diesel public transport vehicles.

To make things even worse, many cities in Asia far exceed WHO guidelines.

• Health Effects Institute
• airimpacts.org - Health and Economic Impacts of Air Pollution
• Air Quality Guidelines, WHO, 1999
• WHO-CEHA: Regional Center for Environmental Health Activities
• Health and Clean Air Newsletter

• Health and Environmental Impacts of Motor Vehicle Emissions
  RETA 5937 workshop presentation [PDF: 1.71mb]
• The Health Effects of Motor Vehicle Emissions
  RETA 5937 workshop presentation [PDF: 532kb]
• Health Impacts of Motor Vehicle Emissions: Priorities for Improving Knowledge to Support Clean Air Action
  RETA 5937 workshop presentation [PDF: 59kb]
• Dangers of Diesel: How diesel soot and other toxics increase American's risk of cancer - Oct 2002
  US PIRG [PDF]
• Health Assessment Document for Diesel Exhaust
  National Center for Environmental Assessment - US EPA