Vehicles Tarnishing Clean Air

The first manufacture four stroke motor vehicle is started in year 1885 by a mechanical engineer Karl Benz from Germany. In the early development of automobile industry, it’s mostly stimulated by discovery of internal combustion engine.

The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidiser (usually air) in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine the expansion of the high temperature and pressure gases, that are produced by the combustion, directly apply force to a movable component of the engine, such as the pistons or turbine blades and by moving it over a distance, generate useful mechanical energy.

Undeniable human today really depend very much on vehicle as to facilitate them for many activities. Vehicles assist human in transporting essential goods and building material for development purposes. In mid 1900s scientists and engineers have combined their expertise in order to produce various type of vehicles such as taxi, lorry, motorcycle and bus to aid human business and transporting goods.

Nowadays, there are approximately 60 international companies worldwide involved in vehicles market bussiness including our national vehicle PROTON. Various vehicles model were created all over the world, with various popular brand such as Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, Hyundai, Ferrari, Fiat and Volvo. Vehicles industries expected achieving valuable return about 400 billion Euro in a year. Worldometers reported, currently there are 600,000,000 of vehicle in the road worldwide. Increases in the amount of vehicles actually bring are greater impact on air pollution especially in urban area.

Air pollution in the urban area are identified contributed by motor vehicles such as taxi, bus, motorcycles, van and lorry. In year 2007 in Malaysia, number of vehicle is found increases drastically. Total passenger vehicles found grew by 6.9%, motorcycle 6.4 %, goods vehicles 4.4%, buses 5.6% and taxi 2.5%. Total registered vehicles over Malaysia until year 2007 reach over 9 millions.

The ratio between vehicle and population is about 1:3 (vehicle : population). If the vehicle rate constantly increase every year, we may face with ‘vehicles dumping’ problem in the near future. Vehicles was one real necessity to every Malaysians, however its good if we could thinking other alternatives for our sustainable future.

The issues is very though and difficult to be solve in a short time. This is because most of vehicles that have been used now very depending on petroleum fuel namely diesel and petrol to generate energy to move. Fuel is burn in the motor vehicle engine furthermore would release air pollutant through exhaust. Actually there are few type of air pollutant such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Without realize, actually motor vehicle that we use everyday is a major contributor to air pollution. Increase in the amount of vehicles every year would certainly add more air pollutant load in the atmosphere. Apart from that, it also contributing in traffic congestion problem. In our country's such as in Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kajang and Shah Alam seem never lonely of bustle and traffic congestion.

Estimated as much as 90% vehicles in Malaysia use petrol fuel while the rest 10% uses diesel fuel. The emmision of air pollutant to the air also would invite health problem to people and affect air quality. For example, particulate matter that emitted could bring interference on respiratory system and contribute to cancer. Particle having size less then 10 microns extremely dangerous to human health.

Carbon monoxide also could result those who smell be dizzy or faint and can be inimical life if smell in high concentration. Carbon monoxide found in high concentration in the urban areas. Carbon monoxide emancipate by incomplete combustion process from motor vehicles. Sulfur dioxide also could bring the acid rain formation. Acid rain resultant could threaten living organism including plant and animal on earth. While nitrogen dioxide resultant from vehicle smoke discharge could disturbing eye comfortness such as felt smarting and sizzling.

Environmental Quality Report 2007 showing that air pollutant substance emission from motor vehicles in Malaysia increase constantly. Carbon monoxide as much 1,743,917 metric tonnes, hydrocarbon as much 361,239 metric tonnes, nitrogen dioxide as much 393,407 metric tonnes, Sulfur dioxide as much 4,504 and particulate matter as much 11,005 metric tonnes.

Seven major possibility identified on how vehicle could emit air pollutant superfluously.

Oil pump in vehicle modified not according to specifications vehicle engine maker, this may occur during maintenance conducted. Consequently oil is pumped superfluously into engine.

Injector does not serviced or maintained properly. While inside injector damaged engine or clogged would affect spray fineness oil into engine.

Air filters resides within possibility engine clogged and this will block air flow to engine. While leaking air filters would allow dirty air encroached engine.

Engine block occur it futhremore effect of continuous usage and cause power pressure loss consequently affect burning method in engine.

Exhaust pipe contain black dirt and soot coated in exhaust pipe wall. Its going out with exhaust gas.
Vehicle carry excess goods will giving excess stress to engine and this cause oil are required in great amount and smoke/air pollutant is emmitted excessively.

User snaking vehicle engine with wrong method. This can happen if driver late to change gear and creating oil surplus came into engine.

In the context of environmental regulation in our country vehicle emmission are controlled by Environmental Quality Act 1974. In this legislation smoke emission standard permitted for diesel vehicles should not exceeding 50 Hatridge's Smoke Unit (HSU) or 50% ambiguity (opacity).

In viewing serious air pollution problem that associated by millions of vehicles, concrete action must be taken. To keep our air is clean for all living. Traffic planning aspects, control through legislation, environmentally friendly transportation and vehicle need to be implemented seriously by all party. In short it requires a holistic approach with putting reduction of air pollutant as a target of Malaysia environment performance indicator.

In traffic planning context, it requires systematic management. Highway which linking a town with other need to be outlined neatly so that vehicle traffic flow able to proceed smoothly and road safety. From the context of legislation, enforcement on vehicle smoke emmission need to be carried out continuously. Vehicle air emmision testing complex must be build to facilitate society to test their own car.

Users also should reliazed their responsibility to service their own vehicle. Vehicle which always been serviced would stay in good condition and had low potential to release air pollutant superfluously. The selection environmentally friendly fuel as an example for air pollution solution. Natural gas can be used as vehicles fuel. It found having high complete burning level and give low pollutant discharge to atmosphere. Apart from that new vehicle by using battery as energy generation need to succed nicely. Battery is used as entire energy generator in believe could overcome completely air pollutant emmision problem.

At the same time other facilities such as commuter train and LRT need to be improved urgently. This aimed is to accommodate public beside can lessen air pollution problem that contributed by million motor vehicles. If public transport system could be increased their efficiency, of course we able to reduces total vehicle smoke emmision to the air.

Increase in the amount of vehicles in nationwide triggered traffic congestion problem. It also contributed to air pollution in our country. Motor vehicle number increase will add more air pollution problem. We actually have many best choices and alternative Air confer upon for us highly valued, we should do something to protect it.