ABSTRACT
Air pollution is a serious environmental problem faced by humanity worldwide. Road transport sector is a major factor affecting the urban air quality. Many urban centres of India are facing severe degradation in air quality, which increases the human health risks. Emission inventories are necessary for the development of effective control strategies. This paper presents the prediction of vehicular exhaust emission for Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala. The pollutant load corresponding to hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide has been predicted for the years 2017–2026. Vehicle characteristics influencing exhaust emissions include fuel used, type and age of engine. The emission factors proposed by Central Pollution Control Board and Automotive Research Association of India have been used for the prediction of exhaust pollutants. Based on the predicted vehicle population, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide emission in Thiruvananthapuram city is expected to rise by 65%, 71.21% and 6.67% respectively in the next decade. It is necessary to develop suitable control strategies for the abatement of vehicular pollution in the study area.
