SIMULATING THE EFFECTS OF EURO 4 DIESEL-POWERED ENGINE JEEPNEYS ON AIR QUALITY AND UNDERSTANDING ESTIMATED HEALTH RISK TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION

Abstract. The Euro-4 diesel-powered engines are the current industry standard in the Philippines as indicated in the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) Omnibus Guidelines Department Order 2017-011. Based on the National Emissions Inventory report of the Environmental Management Bureau in 2018, 74% of air pollutant concentrations were produced by mobile sources including jeepneys. The PUVMP is focused on enhancing environmental sustainability, air quality, and in providing a reliable and effective public transportation system. The potential advantages to air quality and health from the full implementation of the program especially the Euro 4 diesel-powered engine jeepneys in Trece Martires City are assessed in this paper. The study aims to estimate the impact of the possible enforcement of Euro 4 diesel-powered engine jeepneys on the reduction of air pollution in the research locale. Four pollutants were assessed particularly Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxide (NO_x), Sulfur Oxide (SO_x) and Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) using AERMOD Air Dispersion Modeling Software in five (5) different scenarios: (1) baseline engine jeepneys, (2) 25% implementation of Euro 4 diesel-powered engine jeepneys, (3) 50% implementation of Euro 4 diesel-powered engine jeepney, (4) 75% implementation of Euro 4 diesel-powered engine jeepneys and (5) full implementation of Euro 4 diesel-powered engine jeepneys. AirQ+ was utilized to evaluate the health risk of Euro 4 diesel-powered engine jeepneys to the drivers and commuters in the vicinity. Result shows that the Scenario 5 or the full implementation of Euro 4 diesel-powered engines relatively reduces CO by 84.30% (8.355 μg/cu.m to 1.31 μg/cu.m), NO_x by 21.76% (10.6 μg/cu.m to 8.27 μg/cu.m), and PM2.5 by 83.36% (2.69 μg/cu.m to 0.447 μg/cu.m), by its maximum estimated concentrations. However, an increase by 14.14% of SO_x emissions (0.091 μg/cu.m to 0.104 μg/cu.m) were seen on the simulation from Scenario 1 to Scenario 5. In terms of health risk assessment, higher levels of PM2.5 exposure exhibit an increase in health hazard with respect to mortality rate. Simulation outputs indicate that transitioning of jeepneys from current technology to Euro 4 models reduces pollution levels and lowers health risk, hence, can be used as basis in enhancing transport plans and health monitoring strategies in the city.