Quantifying Air Pollution of Road Transport In Addis Ababa City
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Date
2019-12-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Transport is one of the key necessities for the development of a country. In the contrary,
transport sectors contribute in air pollution by exhausting harmful gaseous. Quantifying and
determining the road transport emission of vehicles is an essential step in pollution control and
management. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to assess emission levels and identify possible
alternatives of environmentally friendly public transports vehicles in Addis Ababa city.
The data was collected with electronic instruments; Smoke Opacity Meter and FGA 4000XDS
Gas Analyzer on the site through tail pipe. It employs a descriptive research with quantitative
approaches considering vehicle model year, category, model names and kilometer driven. These
data were analyzed through quantitative (descriptive and statistical analysis) methods.
From the total of 358 tested diesel fueled vehicles, 243 (67.9%) vehicles failed the standard cut
points with smoke opacity values greater than or equal to 41%. Of these vehicles 45 (19%)
registered 100% smoke opacity value. Only 115 (32.1%) vehicles passed the standard limit. The
results of this study show that (Taxi vehicles) is the dominant air pollutant with an average
emission of 86.36% smoke opacity which is above the U.S. EPA Standard and only 7.4% passed
the standard guidelines. Vehicles in this category were those with the oldest model year of 19601999 with an
average
age of
33
years.
From 62 tested gasoline vehicles 29(46.8%), 21(33.87%) scored between 2000-3903ppm, 211541ppm
HC
respectively
and
57(92%)
failed
Californian
BAR-90
standards.
Again,
53(85.5%),
9(14.5%)
recorded
between
3.14-5.87%
and
0.03-0.49%
CO
respectively
and
53(85.5%)
failed
Californian
BAR-90
standards.
This study found that, Travelling by old and new Anbessa bus can decrease air pollution by 32
and 176 as much as using minibus taxis respectively. Also, travelling by Sheger Bus can reduce
air pollution by 34 times as much as minibus taxi. Overall, the study found that Taxi vehicles
both diesels and gasoline fueled were termed as supper emitter together with Higer Bus.
Description
Keywords
Quantifying, Road transportation, FGA 4000XDS four and Five Gas Exhaust Analyzer, Smoke Opacity, Air pollution