Annotation: NOTE: This is a single annotation of a 415 page, ineptly organized national report. I do not expect to cover everything in the report, since that would take quite a bit of printer paper.
1. Citation & Abstract The Automotive Research Association of India. Air Quality Monitoring and Emission Source Apportionment Study for Pune. Rep. Central Pollution Control Board, Feb. 2010. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
"ARAI and other leading research institutes, along with the oil companies in India have signed Memorandum of Collaboration and undertaken joint ventures to find feasible solutions in order to ensure better quality of the environment in selected Indian cities. One such joint venture is the “Air Quality monitoring and emission source apportionment studies”. The study was carried out over a period of 12 months to get representative data incorporating seasonal variations that have bearing on air quality of Pune city. "A total of seven Air monitoring stations were installed at various locations. As per the finalized protocol, air quality monitoring for the city of Pune was carried out in two sets of 4 sites each with background site common in each set in three seasons."
2. Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project. The Automotive Research Association of India, Pune (ARAI) is a part of the Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. ARAI works from an industry point of view, as opposed to directly environmental. Also, any research they publish will affect the automotive industry, and therefore sales, so objectivity must be scrutinized on that account. Their website links to five case studies including (1) detailing a data bank to contain information on steels and aluminum alloys, (2) a comparison of the affects of 10% ethanol gasoline vs. commercial gasoline on polymeric materials, (3) developing "Vehicle Rear Under-run Protection Devices" in collaboration with the big time chemical company, Dow, (4) a chemical study of the particulate matter released from vehicle exhaust, and (5) the development of a test rig for circulating coolant corrosion.
The brief overviews of these studies imply no connection to environmental, public health or air pollution studies. Also, full versions of these case studies are not readily available on the website. The full documents may or may not be available elsewhere, but I was not able to find them, or identify means to do so.
3. What are the main findings presented in the report?
The main findings of the report are broken down by chapter into: Air Quality Status, Emission Inventory, Receptor Modeling & Source Apportionment, Dispersion Modeling, Emission Control Options, Prioritization of Management, and Highlights & Recommendations.
Air Quality Status: This part of the study focused on collecting much-needed baseline data through use of six monitoring sites. These sites were chosen based on their surroundings (including residential, curb-side, etc.). The monitoring seems to have been limited to these six places, which only included a single industrial setting (SAJ Test Plant). To gain a better understanding of the air quality in a place, there certainly needed additional monitoring stations in various locations. Other locations could've included a slum area, a brick kiln, or agricultural land.
Emission Inventory: The Emission Inventory used a gridded map (scale of 2x2 km) to identify emission sources (including point, line, and area sources). The inventory was more focused on emission source, rather than emission type. Also, the information and map was conveyed in an inconvenient, and thus hard to understand manner.
Receptor Modeling & Source Apportionment: In short, receptor modeling, a method of defining the sources of air pollution, was being used to collect data in the Pune area. This practice is not new, but was merely being used to gather baseline data figures. Receptor modelling was developed about 30 years ago, but has continued to develop in recent years; it has since been used in various cities in India.
Dispersion Modeling: Dispersion modeling is a mathematical approach to analyzing emissions released into the atmosphere. In Pune, this method is being used to aid in the development of city-specific "Action Plan(s)." What the action plans are, or where they can be found, is unknown. These models were able to take into account seasonal occurrences, such as monsoon winds; this is especially necessary on the Indian sub-continent.
Emission Control Options: This section of the report summarizes the major sources found from the research. These sources (of PM10 and NOx) included paved/unpaved road dust, vehicle exhaust, construction activities, brick kilns, solid fuel combustion, and industrial sites. (Image: page 6-4) Control Options have been categorized into technological, and management. Technological options include complying to stricter regulations, making the switch to more hybrid/electric cars, and relying on different types of fuel. All these solutions have been modeled by numerous other countries, so nothing new or adventurous is being tested. Also, these solutions are specific to modify cars in particular to work more efficiently. Air pollution is not dependent on just that factor, though so solutions need to move past the vehicle to hold a broader effect. The management options are similar to one another, and fairly straight forward. By 2017, eight years after the publication of this report, there should be 100% compliance on the ban of older vehicles and inspection policy. In addition, there should be a 20% shift towards VKT (a public transportation system). It is rather difficult to judge the progress made, since the most recent "annual report" available from India's Central Pollution Control Board is from 2011-2012
Prioritization of Management: This section shows that 100% compliance is expected in all areas, from technological standards, to banning of certain industries in the city limit by the year 2017. Although, there is no prioritization clearly listed or stated as to which tasks should be dealt with first and foremost.
Highlights & Recommendations: This section summarizes the findings of the past six chapters, including source findings, which control methods have been suggested, etc. In regards to the Emission Inventory, ARAI's data was focused on a narrow set of emissions, specifically PM10. PM10, or the larger type particulate matter, is certainly not the single contributor to air pollution of respiratory diseases. Also, PM10 refers to a very particular type of particulate matter, and doesn't include smaller particulates. These smaller particulates, or PM2.5, are notably what's produced from automobiles, but these were only monitored for a week every season. How ARAI chose which types of emissions to monitor is unstated, but this selection should be taken into consideration.
4. Describe at least three ways in which the argument is supported.
This report focused less on providing an argument, as oppose to displaying data and methods. The findings of the study, and data collected are shown through a variety of visual representations (graphs, maps, tables, etc.) in addition to the report text. A select few of the visualizations were helpful, but many were arranged in a difficult to read manner. One argument made was that Pune had insufficient public transportation, but was not further explained; the report did suggest a future plan to create an adequate transportation system, though.
5. Provide three, or more, quotes that capture the message of the report.
"The recent Auto Fuel Policy report submitted to the Government of India by the Mashelkar Committee, clearly points to the existence of a knowledge gap in the areas of emission factor determination for Indian vehicles, air quality monitoring and source apportionment studies." (page 3)
"Source apportionment studies have been undertaken in six cities viz. Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Kanpur, Mumbai and Chennai. With a focus on apportionment of respirable particulate matter [PM10 and PM2.5 (limited)], being most critical." (page 3)
"...Considering health impacts of finer particles, controlling fine particulates (PM2.5 ) would be important." (page 8-1)
"In Pune, mass transportation system is inadequate and not in pace with the transportation requirement." (8-5)
7. How (if at all) were health disparities addressed?
This report does not address the public health concerns. The extent of the report on this matter is as follows: "considering health impacts... would be important." (pgs. 8-1 and 8)
8. Where has this report been referenced?
I can not find any references to this report, aside from a few Indian newspapers announcing the fact, the number of which I could count on a single hand.
9. What can be learned from the reports bibliography that tells you about its production?
This report had fewer than 25 references, and multiple references cam from the same source. Most of the references were to government agencies, including the USEPA, the Pune Municipal Corporation, and themselves (The Automative Research Association of India).
10. What did you follow up on to advance your knowledge?
History of receptor modelling to model air pollution data
Effects of PM2.5 in Beijing
http://theasthmafiles2015.wikispaces.com/file/view/TAF%20Pune.pdf/559526743/TAF%20Pune.pdf
Annotation:
NOTE: This is a single annotation of a 415 page, ineptly organized national report. I do not expect to cover everything in the report, since that would take quite a bit of printer paper.
1. Citation & Abstract
The Automotive Research Association of India. Air Quality Monitoring and Emission Source Apportionment Study for Pune. Rep. Central Pollution Control Board, Feb. 2010. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
"ARAI and other leading research institutes, along with the oil companies in India
have signed Memorandum of Collaboration and undertaken joint ventures to find feasible solutions in order to ensure better quality of the environment in selected Indian cities. One such joint venture is the “Air Quality monitoring and emission source apportionment studies”. The study was carried out over a period of 12 months to get representative data incorporating seasonal variations that have bearing on air quality of Pune city. "A total of seven Air monitoring stations were installed at various locations. As per the finalized protocol, air quality monitoring for the city of Pune was carried out in two sets of 4 sites each with background site common in each set in three seasons."
2. Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
The Automotive Research Association of India, Pune (ARAI) is a part of the Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. ARAI works from an industry point of view, as opposed to directly environmental. Also, any research they publish will affect the automotive industry, and therefore sales, so objectivity must be scrutinized on that account.
Their website links to five case studies including (1) detailing a data bank to contain information on steels and aluminum alloys, (2) a comparison of the affects of 10% ethanol gasoline vs. commercial gasoline on polymeric materials, (3) developing "Vehicle Rear Under-run Protection Devices" in collaboration with the big time chemical company, Dow, (4) a chemical study of the particulate matter released from vehicle exhaust, and (5) the development of a test rig for circulating coolant corrosion.
The brief overviews of these studies imply no connection to environmental, public health or air pollution studies. Also, full versions of these case studies are not readily available on the website. The full documents may or may not be available elsewhere, but I was not able to find them, or identify means to do so.
3. What are the main findings presented in the report?
The main findings of the report are broken down by chapter into: Air Quality Status, Emission Inventory, Receptor Modeling & Source Apportionment, Dispersion Modeling, Emission Control Options, Prioritization of Management, and Highlights & Recommendations.
4. Describe at least three ways in which the argument is supported.
This report focused less on providing an argument, as oppose to displaying data and methods. The findings of the study, and data collected are shown through a variety of visual representations (graphs, maps, tables, etc.) in addition to the report text. A select few of the visualizations were helpful, but many were arranged in a difficult to read manner. One argument made was that Pune had insufficient public transportation, but was not further explained; the report did suggest a future plan to create an adequate transportation system, though.
5. Provide three, or more, quotes that capture the message of the report.
"The recent Auto Fuel Policy report submitted to the Government of India by the Mashelkar Committee, clearly points to the existence of a knowledge gap in the areas of emission factor determination for Indian vehicles, air quality monitoring and source apportionment studies." (page 3)
"Source apportionment studies have been undertaken in six cities viz. Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Kanpur, Mumbai and Chennai. With a focus on apportionment of respirable particulate matter [PM10 and PM2.5 (limited)], being most critical." (page 3)
"...Considering health impacts of finer particles, controlling fine particulates (PM2.5 ) would be important." (page 8-1)
"In Pune, mass transportation system is inadequate and not in pace with the transportation requirement." (8-5)
7. How (if at all) were health disparities addressed?
This report does not address the public health concerns. The extent of the report on this matter is as follows: "considering health impacts... would be important." (pgs. 8-1 and 8)
8. Where has this report been referenced?
I can not find any references to this report, aside from a few Indian newspapers announcing the fact, the number of which I could count on a single hand.
9. What can be learned from the reports bibliography that tells you about its production?
This report had fewer than 25 references, and multiple references cam from the same source. Most of the references were to government agencies, including the USEPA, the Pune Municipal Corporation, and themselves (The Automative Research Association of India).
10. What did you follow up on to advance your knowledge?
History of receptor modelling to model air pollution data
Effects of PM2.5 in Beijing