AIR POLLUTION IN ASIA

Dr. Ashok Kumar, P.Eng.Professor & Chairman  

Department of Civil EngineeringThe University of Toledo

COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS

Early 1990’s, SPM-Comparison Across Cities(Source: UNESCAP 2000)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Bangkok

Beijing

Calcutta

Delhi

Jakarta

Kuala Lumpur

Manila

Mumbai

Seoul

Shanghai

Tehran

Tokyo

Annual Avg. (ug/m3)

Air Quality Levels 2000-2001

Source: Information collected from national and local government agencies through CAI-Asia network, 2003, detailed sources available from CAI-Asia Secretariat

SO2

NO2

SPM

PM10

SPM Limit = 90 µg/m3 (WHO, 1979)

PM10 Limit = 50 µg/m3 (USEPA,

1997)

SO2 Limit = 50 µg/m3 (WHO, 1999)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Bangk

ok

Busan

Chong

qing

Colom

bo

Hong

Kong

Jaka

rta

Kolkat

a

Man

ila

Mum

bai

New D

elhi

Osaka

Pune

Singap

ore

Seoul

Shang

hai

Tokyo

con

cen

trat

ion

in

µg

/m

NO2 Limit = 40 µg/m3 (WHO, 1999)

FACTORS INFLUENCING POLLUTION

POPULATION GROWTH

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

INCREASED VEHICULAR TRAFFIC

ECONOMIC GROWTH

ECONOMIC GROWTH

POLLUTION TRENDS

• China

• India

• Sri Lanka

Trends - China

Trends - India

Changes in RSPM levels

Delhi

(ug/m3)

Kolkata

(ug/m3)

Mumbai

(ug/m3)

Hyderabad

(ug/m3)

Chennai

(ug/m3)

1993-95

Average

255 196 142 69 73

2000-02

Average

180 130 83 66 63

Reduction 75

(29%)

66

(34%)

59

(42%)

3

(4%)

10

(14%)

Trends – Sri Lanka

Trends – Sri Lanka

CONTROL MEASURES• Technology-Based Regulations

– Hybrid Vehicles– Fuel Cell Vehicles– Hydrogen-Powered Internal-Combustion Engines – Ultra-Low Sulfur Fuels– Alternative Fuels

• Economic Instruments– Emission Trading– Congestion Pricing

• Policy Implementation

TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION

RSPM (All Areas)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

ug/m

3

1328 industries closed or relocated in 1996-97

Lower S in diesel and other industrial fuel

National Standard (Residential)

Change in monitoring equipment !

Effects - India

Per Capita Income

Po

llu

tio

n

Environmental Effects of Globalization

A failure to account for environmental and social degradation

A potential reduction in environmental and social standards

Specialization which increases monocultures and decreases diversity

Environmental damage caused by long-distance transport

Export-oriented growth which exacerbates all of the above. Incompatibility with some environmental protection measures

Increasing inequality between rich and poor countries, rich and poor people, and women and men, all of which also exacerbate poverty and environmental degradation