Air Pollution from Vehicles and Their Effect on Human Health in Urban Areas Asllan Hajderi, Ledia Bozo

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1 Air Pollution from Vehicles and Their Effect on Human Health in Urban Areas Asllan Hajderi, Ledia Bozo Abstract This study analyzed air pollution from vehicle exhaust gases and their impact on human health for the years In this study is analyzed air pollution from vehicle exhaust gases and their impact on human health for the years in the capital of Albania. In the beginning is analyzed the increase of vehicles number in the years , by grouping according to the pollution level and production years, where dominate produced vehicles before For these years we have determined the average number of vehicles circulating in an urban junction and have estimated the amount of pollutant gases in an hour. Results show that the pollution level increase up to 2011 and after 2011 it is reduced. Below is shown the effect of these pollutants on human health by derived from hospitals the number of patients with cancer and number of deaths for the years , where it result that reduction of pollution from vehicles affect in the reduction of patients with cancer. Index Terms air pollution, human health, vehicle exhaust gases. I. INTRODUCTION Air is the main element of the existence of life on earth and its quality is the main key to human health. Many diseases can be traced to adverse environmental factors such as air, water, land, etc.. With the reduction of air quality data show a trend thus showing a different cancerous diseases. Therefore studies of air quality assessment remain current. According to the results of measuring air quality in our country shows that state of environment general and particularly air pollution in Tirana has continued to aggravate negatively, affecting in the health and quality of life of citizens. There are no clear statistics, but based on information from health institutions, show that the number of cases with cardiovascular disease, chronic bronchial, hormonal hyperactivity, dermatitis, anemia, allergies and tumors is increasing. Also, is significantly increased the stress and head pain from circulation. Albania has pollution values times higher than EU countries, therefore WHO has classified Albania in the area of health risks due to air pollution. According to studies, it is estimated that this level of pollution will be reduced life of human -2 years and will also lead to 1400 new cases of cancer diseases each year [1]. In our country the vehicles number is increased to 70 vehicles/1000 inhabitants [2]. Vehicles circulating in Tirana, amount to 100 thousand per day, including vehicles entering each day from districts. Automobile transport is responsible for environmental pollution in urban centers. Sensitive areas from air pollution are the main routes and their intersections. Greater pollution in Tirana is the area at the junction "21 Dhjetori", so this is taken in the study. Vehicle pollution rate is different and depends on the production year of vehicle and the condition of their technical maintenance. So today challenge is to replace existing versions automobile more efficient and less polluting, which is the focus for vehicle manufacturers at the present time [3]. The main pollutants caused by cars in the environment are: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons ( HC) and particulates matter (PM). -Carbon monoxide (CO) is generated in an engine, when it is operated with a fuel-rich ratio and some fuel does not get burned and some carbon ends up as CO. It is a colorless, odorless and poisonous gas It is volatile and easily combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) [4]. The fact that CO combines with oxygen is the reason that CO is a poisonous gas (in the lungs, it combines with oxygen to form CO 2 and deprives the brain of oxygen [5]. Inhalation of CO in the lungs cause suffocation. A person suffering from CO poisoning by first proving a euphoric state and pain headache, followed a little later on nausea, vomiting, and increased hemoglobin concentration in the blood Carboxyl [6]. To prevent this intoxication, WHO has set a PEL (permissible exposure limit), a rate of no 41

2 more than 50 ppm in 8 hours. In urban areas, the contribution of carbon monoxide pollution from passenger cars can exceed 90%. -Nitrogen oxides are composed from NO and NO 2, which are created during the combustion reaction in the engine. These are all grouped together as NOx which is a very undesirable emission and dangerous to human health. Released NOx reacts in the atmosphere to form ozone and is one of the major causes of photochemical smog. [ 4], [5]. Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) is gas with reddish-brown color and has a pungent smell and acid. NO 2 is toxic when inhaled, but this can be avoided, as detected due to odor. Lower concentrations (4 ppm), this gas makes a nasal anesthesia. Exposure for a long time to NO 2 concentrations in μg/m3 causes adverse effects on health [6]. -Hydrocarbons HC represent unburned fuel components (about 40%) and the other consists from non equilibrium molecules which are formed when large fuel molecules break up (thermal cracking) during the combustion reaction [4]. It react in the presence of nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, which is a major component of smog. Ozone irritates the eyes, nose, and throat and damages the lungs. A number of exhaust hydrocarbons are toxic. Also, some with the potential to cause cancer [3] [6]. -Particulates matter (PM) are soot particles from solid carbon spheres. Carbon spheres are generated in the combustion chamber in the fuel-rich zones, where there is not enough oxygen to convert all carbon to CO2. These spheres have diameters from 10 nm to 80 nm (1 nm = 10-9 m), with most within the range of nm The most of PM is consisting from PM 10 [ 4]. Increased levels of small particles in the air has more about health risks such as heart disease, pulmonary function impairment, and lung cancer [6]. For the assessment of air pollution were obtained measurements made from Environmental Protection Agency at the junction "21 Dhjetori". From a study done by the World Bank in early 2013 shows, that three most prevalent diseases of human mortality are those of the heart, diabetes and cancers.. Therefore, in this study we have got only patients and deaths from heart and cancer in total, for the years The present study is an attempt to assess air pollution from polluting elements, that vehicles bring and effects on human health. II. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania, which reaches over a million inhabitants. It is divided into 12 districts. Internal road network consists only from road junctions with traffic lights and roundabouts, where traffic is heavy due to the large number of vehicles circulating in them. Data collection on the number of vehicles is made by DGRTS archive, while for patients with heart and cancer and deaths from QSUT and Statistical Institute. Estimate the pollution amount from vehicles gas in the Tirana city is performed for junction " 21 Dhjetori" with 4 branches, in which after 2011 all incoming branches are 3 lanes (Fig. 1). Fig 1 The junction "21 Dhjetori" Methodology for determining the pollution per hour for each year, is done pursuing the following: 42

3 A. Determination of the vehicles number and the intersection crossing time The number of vehicles in circulation is determined using the physical survey. Observer at the junction does count vehicles entering for the cycle time of traffic lights tc = 1.5 min, for 4 junction branches in different hours of the day ( ). Tests repeated 3 times within the hour and deals the average value Measurements performed for one week (5 working days) and deals the average number of vehicles Nc. The intersection crossing time from vehicles is determined by the survey. Observer measures the time that vehicles stand before junction and cross it, in two branches of entry for the traffic light cycle. Tests repeated 3 times within the hour and calculated the average value of time, at different times of the day for 5 days work. Finally calculated average time for a cycle Tav. Thus from the measurements carried out in February 2011[7], during a week at different hours of the day ( ), the average number of vehicles that circulate at this junction in a traffic light cycle 1.5 minute Nc, and average time for different hours of day, shown in Fig. 2. (Nc at 8 includes the average number for 30 min before and 30 min after) Fig. 2 Number of vehicles in the intersection for a cycle Nc and time Tc Average number of vehicles circulating in the junction in an hour N h, can be calculated: N h = N mc 60/t c Where: N mc - represents the average number of vehicles circulating in a cycle For 2011 we have N mc = 120 vehicles/cycle and N h = 4800 vehicles/hour, while T av = 120 sec = 2 min. The average speed of vehicles in the intersection is 4-8 km/h. We accept an average speed v = 6 km/h = 0.1 km/min B. Determination of the pollution amount of vehicles in junction Recognizing that all vehicles in circulation are cars (over 90%) and with diesel engine (80%), the calculation of the pollution amount caused by vehicles will be assuming that vehicles have pollution degree within the limits of the EU norms, given in g /km [8],[9]. For uniform motion with v = 0.1 km/min, pollution values for CO, (NOx+HC) and PM calculated in g/ min are given in table 1. Table 1. Pollution values of car for speed v = 0.1km/min Standard Year of introduction CO g/min NOx+HC g/min Particulates PM g/min Euro 1 July 1992 January ,316 0,113 0,018 Euro 2 July 1996 January ,10 0,090 0,009 Euro 3 January ,064 0,056 0,005 Euro 4 January ,050 0,030 0,0025 Euro 5 September ,050 0,023 0,001 43

4 C. Vehicles structure in circulation The number of vehicles in circulation in our country, has increased more after 2000, reaching at the end of 2012 to in Tirana and to in total for the whole country [7],[10]. The junction "21 Dhjetori" is located in the capital and in it circulate vehicles of all the country, so the structure of the vehicles at the junction, will be equal to the total vehicles structure, which will be given grouped by production years and for 2011 is shown in Fig. 3 [10]. Fig. 3. Vehicles number in circulation in Albania, by production years D. Calculation of pollution amount in junction On the structure of vehicles in circulation, the pollution amount in junction for each pollutant CO, (NOx+ HC) and PM can be calculated: G= (G 1 P 1 +G 2 P 2 +G 3 P 3 + G 4 P 4 + G 5 P 5 ) T av 60 N h [ g/h] Where: - G 1, G 2, G 3, G 4, G 5 - are masses of pollution in g/ min for each pollutant by 5 groups of production years, respectively before 95, , , and after 2009, given in table 1. - P 1, P 2, P 3, P 4, P 5 - are the percentages of vehicles in circulation by five groups of production years, respectively before 95, , , and after 2009, calculated to the relevant situation given in table 3. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION According to the above methodology is calculated the average number of vehicles circulating in the junction "21 Dhjetori" Nh and the relevant average time for his crossing Tav, for , [7], [11], which are shown in table 2 Table 2 Vehicles number per hour and the average time Year N h T av Average number of vehicles up to 2011 has a linear increase, then increase reduced and approximately the crossing time of the junction. Decrease in 2011 is mainly due to an increase of junction lanes number from 2 to 3. Vehicles number is grouped by production year for the years and the respective percentages were calculated, which given in the table 3. Table 3 Percentage of vehicles by production year Percentages P 1 70% 60% 55%, 54 %, 49%, P 2 17% 20.9% 20%, 20 %, 19%, P 3 10% 15% 18%, 18 %, 19%, P 4 2% 4% 6%, 6% 9%, P 5-0.1% 1%, 2% 4%, 44

5 On table 3 seems that the number of old vehicles reduced from one year to another, however old vehicles produced before 95 dominate over 2 times in Environment tax imposed by the government in 2011 has not impacted. This is because the duty tax does not stimulate new car purchases, but the old ones. Based on the above methodology and data of tables 1, 2, 3 are calculated the pollution amounts per hour for CO, (NOx+ HC), and particulate matter PM, at the junction "21 Dhjetori" for , shown in fig. 4. Fig. 4. Pollution per hour in Junction for years Analysis of the results shows that there is a increase of pollution by 44% per year until Then in 2011 there is a decrease 20%, which is due to the add of the lanes number in the intersection, which has led the reduction of residence time of vehicles. While the reduction of pollution in 2012, is due to the reduction of old vehicles in circulation. Calculated pollution is confirmed by the results of measurements near 21 Dhjetori " junction [2], which are shown in table 4. Table 4 Levels of pollutants in the air Year Albanian, EU rate PM 10 μg/m , 40 NO 2 μg/m , 40 CO mg/m , 4 Results show that the PM level exceeds 2 times limits. Reduction of PM in 2010 arrived due to reduction of construction in the city. The patients with cancer and heart diseases, taken from admissions in QSUT, for the years are given in table 5 [6],[12]. Table 5 Diseases in years Diseases: admissions in QSUT Total Cancer Total new cases Total heart disease On the table shows that heart disease annually increase by 0.8-1% and those with cancer by 2.2% (>400 patients). As the death number from two major diseases and pollution level of the junction, shown in table 6. Table 6 Mortality and pollution level Years Cancer (in total) Heart diseases Mortality CO kg/h NOx+HC kg/h PM kg/h

6 On the table 6 seems that short-term effects show a linear increase in the number of deaths. Long-term effects will be shortening of the life, the increased prevalence of respiratory signs, and hormonal and tumor, as shown in the study [6]. The results show that mortality from cardiac diseases has a correlation with the pollution degree. The impact of pollution from PM, (NOx+HC) and CO have delayed action on human health and his life will be cut each year from pollution, when it exceeds the allowed rates. This shows also other studies, which believe that the life of the capital people and some other districts in the country will be cut two years only from the pollution. Improving air quality brings the reduction of illness and mortality in the city. This can be achieved by removing older vehicles from circulation and better manage traffic. The removal of customs duties on new vehicles and establishment of environmental tax proportional to the pollution degree, for those that exceed the limits of pollution, helps in reducing pollution. IV. CONCLUSIONS The sources of environmental pollution in urban areas are vehicles manufactured before 1995, because they cause a pollution 3 times higher than those produced after 2000 and dominate in circulation in Albania more than 2.5 times, compared with those produced by The most dangerous pollution for increasing heart disease and cancers in Tirana is pollution from PM particles; produced by diesel vehicles, which at the intersection "21 Dhjetori" exceeds 2 times the permitted rates. Environment pollution from vehicles directly affects in the linear increase of mortality, while late effects are the shortening of life and aggravation of respiratory diseases, tumors (cancer) and hormonal. The reduction of diseases and mortality in Tirana city can be achieved by improving the structure of vehicles in circulation in favor of newer vehicles and with biodiesel. This is accomplished by removing the customs duty for new vehicles and setting tax proportional to the degree of environmental pollution, for those that exceed the limits of pollution. ACKNOWLEDGMENT I am thankful to Prof. Dr. Robert Progri for his valuable technical support and appreciation to give me. Special thanks of authors go to SGS Automotive Albania sh.p.k, for its disposability and contribution in the performing of opacity measurements of gas emissions of cars. REFERENCES [1] Report for Environment Condition in Albania for year 2008, 2009, p Ministry of Environment, Tirana [2] Report for Environment Condition in Albania for year 2010, 2011, p Ministry of Environment, Tirana 2012 ; [3] Car Exhaust, Air Pollution, Combustion Engines, (February 2013) [4] Pulkrabek W.W. Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal Combustion Engine, p ; [5] Halderman D. J., Automotive technology principles, diagnosis and service; p ; [6], Prifti P., Gjyli L., Sina E. The impact of air pollution in illnesses, mortality and hospital admission throughout year in Albania. Journal of studies on economics & society Vol.2 No. 2; p Durres, December [7] Hajderi A., Gjevori Sh., Case Study for the Reduction of Pollution from Vehicles in Urban Areas in Albania International Journal of Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering IJENS, Vol: 12 No: 06; December [8] S Hillier V.A.W. & Peter Coombes "Hillier's Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology" 5 th edition Book 1. p.233; [9] J Directive 2009/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers. &start=0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pë.&fp=ee045cc55d691584&bië=1024&bih=517 [10] General Directorate of Road Transport Services (GDRTS,2013).The archive's central 46

7 [11] Hajderi A. On the reduction of environmental pollution caused by automobile emissions. Journal of studies on economics & society Vol.2 No. 2; p Durres, December 2010 [12] J INSTAT (Statistical Institute Data of Albania) Causes of deaths by group-diseases in Albania ; Tirana AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Asllan Hajderi has finished his postgraduate qualification at the Polytechnic University of Tirana. He is the author of several university books and has performed many studies and projections in the field of mechanics and automotive, which are implemented. Mr. Hajderi holds the title Associate Professor since He has been head of Department of Mechanic and Transport and actually he is lector at Faculty of Professional Studies in Aleksander Moisiu University in Durres. Ledia Bozo has completed graduate studies in the field of information technology and is continuing her postgraduate qualification at the Tirana University. 47