抄録
Oil, gas and coal represent about 90% of the commercial energy used worldwide, at current rates of consumption reserves are estimated for at least two centuries. Although advances in renewable energy technologies will continue to play a role in determining the world's energy mix, the global community will, however, rely heavily on the use of fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. This will be particularly important in developing economies, which, present some 605 of annual growth in energy demand.
In meeting this growing demand, the challenge for the fuels sector is to develop and provide global market affordable products while ensuring environmental quality and safety to human health. The environmental issues that the industry faces are numerous, potential impacts include, among others: loss of 1% crude oil while processing which goes to waterways and soil, solid waste and air emissions from refineries and vehicles due to the use of inadequate standard fuels. Among these, the air pollution, is most critical. In fact, the density of air pollutants in a given area depends on three factors, namely,
i) Concentration of pollutants in the crude and additives
ii) Fuel efficiency of the motor vehicles, and
iii) City traffic planning and air flow.
The common air pollutants related to oil refining curd automobile sector include, particulate mutter, hydrocarbon, aldehydes, sulphur dioxide, carbonmonoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and lead. The particulate matter leads to several respiratory diseases, whereas lead once deposited in the body stays there forever.
Vehicular traffic is the largest source of lead exposure in urban aretrs, often accounting for more than, 90% of all atmospheric emissions. It severely effects the IQ level, and in severe cases heart attack and early death. Additionally, perennial exposure to lead effects on human fetus, resulting in reduced birth weight, disturbed mental development, spontaneous abortion, or premature birth. Generally, the population group most seriously affected by the exposure to pollutants is the urban poor. Furthermore, children are most affected because of their proximity to the exhaust level.
Many countries in the tleveloping world have changed the crude oil refining processes and have switched over to unleaded gasoline. In Pakistan, unfortunately all the gasoline usetl is leaded which is a constant threat to human health, especially to that of young children. Likewise, the diesel and furnuce oil used in Pakistan contain higher levels of sulphur dioxide.
The Government of Pakistan has taken a number of good initiatives to improve the ref ining process in refineries to minimize losses, developed a policy to promote the use of CNG instead of gasoline and increased prices of diesel to promote its jurliciotts use. It is also being considered to import better quality crutle oil to minimize sulphur emissions. However, the measures taker, are not adequate to show results in near future.
To minimize air pollution and consequently the health affects, policy action are needed to enforce production of clean fuels by refineries and at the same time taking actions to improve fuel efficiency by automobiles. Such actions could be improving traffic flow, enforcing vehicle road fitness standards and their carrying capacity limits Training/awareness of drivers angel workshop mechanics for proper tune up of engines.
