A Study on the Quantification of Vehicular Emissions Load at Selected Traffic Intersections of Visakhapatnam

Automotive and roadway emissions are inextricably linked to fuel consumption caused by an insufficient combustion process in the engine. This study attempted to quantify gaseous and particle emissions from different kinds of vehicles (two-wheelers, three-wheelers, light motor vehicle (LMVs) and heavy motor vehicle (HMVs)) in high-traffic intersection regions, like Vadlapudi junction, Kommadi junction and Gopalapatnam in Visakhapatnam. The sample was done weekly, once every month, at peak times (8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m). Among the study regions, the number of vehicles was high at Kommadi junction. The maximum vehicular pollutant concentrations detected were NOx, CO₂ and SO₂ at 49.8%, 62.2% and 86.9% in Gopalapatnam (3-wheelers), CO, CH₄ and HC at 60.5%, 65.9% and 86.0% in Gopalapatnam (2-wheelers), respectively. According to study, increased transportation activity is directly related to higher air pollution levels in urban areas. Overall, the total vehicular pollution emissions load categories are high in Kommadi junction and Gopalapatnam (3-wheelers). According to category, 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers contribute considerably to total emission load in the Gopalapatnam region (668.1% and 307.6%, respectively), whereas LMV is high in Kommadi junction (131.6%) and HMV is high in Vadlapudi junction (156.5%). Residents who live near roads and traffic are more likely to suffer from several illnesses, like headaches and respiratory infections. Vehicle pollution requires new technologies, fuel alternatives, following rules and enforcing them.