AIR POLLUTION AND TRANSPORTATION

THE AUTOMOBILE REPRESENTS THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS THE PRIME SOURCE OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROCARBONS IN THE AIR. THE MOST DIRECT WAY TO REDUCE THE AIR POLLUTION PROBLEM CREATED BY MOTOR VEHICLES IS TO REDUCE THE QUANTITY OF POLLUTION EMITTED PER VEHICLE. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY IMPROVED ENGINE DESIGN, THE ADDITION OF CONTROL DEVICES, OR EVEN THE USE OF NOVEL PROPULSION SYSTEMS OR DIFFERENT FUELS AND ENERGY SOURCES. PROPOSED 1970 STANDARDS WOULD REQUIRE 90- PERCENT CONTROL OF HYDROCARBONS EVAPORATING FROM GAS TANKS AND CARBURETORS AND WOULD COVER EXHAUST EMISSIONS FROM HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS AND BUSES, REQUIRING 35-PERCENT CONTROL OF HYDROCARBONS AND 37-PERCENT CONTROL OF CARBON MONOXIDE FROM SUCH VEHICLES. THE PROPOSED STANDARDS PLACE LIMITATIONS ON VISIBLE SMOKE EMISSIONS FROM DIESEL-POWERED TRUCKS AND BUSES. THE ANTICIPATED EFFECTS OF THESE STANDARDS UPON AIR POLLUTION ARE DISCUSSED. AIR POLLUTION SOLUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO HIGHWAY DESIGN, TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE TOTAL URBAN PLAN ARE DISCUSSED. MAJOR CHANGES MUST BE CONSIDERED IN CITY PLANNING, INCLUDING GREATER USE OF MASS TRANSIT AND OTHER SUBSTITUTES FOR THE AUTOMOBILE AS A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. SUCH STEPS ARE COSTLY BUT MAY PROVE NECESSARY AS AIR POLLUTION CONTINUES TO BECOME LESS A NUISANCE AND MORE A QUESTION OF SURVIVAL IN URBAN AREAS.

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 175-189
  • Serial:
    • Traffic Quarterly
    • Volume: 22
    • Issue Number: 2
    • Publisher: Eno Transportation Foundation
    • ISSN: 0041-0713

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00222709
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 24 2001 12:00AM