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Odd–Even Traffic Rule Implementation during Winter 2016 in Delhi Did Not Reduce Traffic Emissions of VOCs, Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Carbon Monoxide


Affiliations
1 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
2 Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
3 India Meteorological Department, New Delhi 110 003, India
4 Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, New Delhi 110 003, India
 

We studied the impact of the odd–even traffic rule (implemented in Delhi during 1–15 January 2016) on primary traffic emissions using measurements of 13 volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane at a strategic arterial road in Delhi (28.57°N, 77.11°E, 220 m amsl). Whole air samples (n = 27) were collected during the odd–even rule active (OA) and inactive (OI) days, and analysed at the IISER Mohali Atmospheric Chemistry Facility. The average mass concentration ranking and toluene/benzene ratio were characteristic of primary traffic emissions in both OA and OI samples, with the largest fraction comprising aromatic compounds (55– 70% of total). Statistical tests showed likely increase (p ≤ 0.16; OA > OI) in median concentration of 13 out of 16 measured gases during morning and afternoon periods (sampling hours: 07 : 00–08 : 00 and 13 : 30–14 : 30 IST), whereas no significant difference was observed for evening samples (sampling hour: 19 : 00–20 : 00 IST). This suggests that many four-wheeler users chose to commute earlier, to beat the 8 : 00 AM–8 : 00 PM restrictions, and/or there was an increase in the number of exempted public transport vehicles. Thus, the odd–even rule did not result in anticipated traffic emission reductions in January 2016, likely due to the changed temporal and fleet emission behaviour triggered in response to the regulation.

Keywords

Odd–Even Rule, Pollution, PTR-MS, Traffic, VOCs.
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  • Odd–Even Traffic Rule Implementation during Winter 2016 in Delhi Did Not Reduce Traffic Emissions of VOCs, Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Carbon Monoxide

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Authors

B. P. Chandra
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
V. Sinha
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
H. Hakkim
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
A. Kumar
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
H. Pawar
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
A. K. Mishra
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
G. Sharma
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
Pallavi
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
S. Garg
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140 306, India
Sachin D. Ghude
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
D. M. Chate
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
Prakash Pithani
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
Rachana Kulkarni
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
R. K. Jenamani
India Meteorological Department, New Delhi 110 003, India
M. Rajeevan
Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, New Delhi 110 003, India

Abstract


We studied the impact of the odd–even traffic rule (implemented in Delhi during 1–15 January 2016) on primary traffic emissions using measurements of 13 volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane at a strategic arterial road in Delhi (28.57°N, 77.11°E, 220 m amsl). Whole air samples (n = 27) were collected during the odd–even rule active (OA) and inactive (OI) days, and analysed at the IISER Mohali Atmospheric Chemistry Facility. The average mass concentration ranking and toluene/benzene ratio were characteristic of primary traffic emissions in both OA and OI samples, with the largest fraction comprising aromatic compounds (55– 70% of total). Statistical tests showed likely increase (p ≤ 0.16; OA > OI) in median concentration of 13 out of 16 measured gases during morning and afternoon periods (sampling hours: 07 : 00–08 : 00 and 13 : 30–14 : 30 IST), whereas no significant difference was observed for evening samples (sampling hour: 19 : 00–20 : 00 IST). This suggests that many four-wheeler users chose to commute earlier, to beat the 8 : 00 AM–8 : 00 PM restrictions, and/or there was an increase in the number of exempted public transport vehicles. Thus, the odd–even rule did not result in anticipated traffic emission reductions in January 2016, likely due to the changed temporal and fleet emission behaviour triggered in response to the regulation.

Keywords


Odd–Even Rule, Pollution, PTR-MS, Traffic, VOCs.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv114%2Fi06%2F1318-1325