Modelling motor vehicle exhaust emissions and pollutant dispersion analysis
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(Published version)
Date
2013
Authors
Schultz, L.
Chiera, B.
Shah, P.
Boland, J.
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Conference paper
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21st International Clean Air and Environment Conference : program, 2013, pp.1-6
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21st International Clean Air and Environment Conference (CASANZ 2013) (7 Sep 2013 - 11 Sep 2013 : Sydney, Australia)
Abstract
Studies in the area of air quality management have identified motor vehicle exhaust pollution as a dominant contributor to ambient anthropogenic pollution in the atmosphere with the detrimental health effects of exposure and proximity to this pollution now well established. Populations residing near heavily trafficked roadways have the highest potential exposure levels to traffic-related air pollution and subsequently are at high risk of experiencing adverse health effects.
The results from the present study indicate that vehicle exhaust pollution concentrations are greatest over main roads and intersections, with pollutant concentrations declining with increasing distance from the main roads. Meteorology has a strong effect on the pollutant dispersion patterns as well as seasonal, weekly and daily variability. Although traffic-related atmospheric pollutant concentrations in the case study area are below the WHO thresholds, Adelaide residents remain exposed to a notable volume of exhaust pollution. As such, mitigation strategies for traffic pollutant emissions should be designed and implemented for South Australia.
We investigate the current air quality status and dispersion of traffic related pollutants in Adelaide, South Australia, through a case study for a residential area with high traffic density. Traffic pollutant emissions are estimated using an enhanced Link Emissions Model we developed for South Australia that combines traffic activity data with emission factors which describe exhaust pollution emission rates. The enhanced Link Emissions Model has two components, the first of which estimates petrol passenger vehicle emissions using a new Link Emissions Model (PLEM) that we developed based on the Australian petrol passenger vehicle data of the second National In-Service (NISE2) study. The second component computes road traffic pollution emissions for all other vehicle types using the current South Australian Link Emissions Model (CLEM). The Air Pollution Model is used to analyse atmospheric dispersion of the exhaust emission estimates and generate pollutant contour plots, which can be used to inform population pollution exposure assessments.
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Copyright 2013 The Authors