Impacts of particulate matter emissions from a highway on the neighboring population

The road freight transport sector is one of the main responsible for the air pollution (as the case of particulate matter) and greenhouse gases emissions worldwide. Different types of fuel technologies have been developed in order to improve efficiency, reduce air pollution impacts, such as the case of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for heavy-duty vehicles. Many studies show the relationship between the effects of short and long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), premature deaths worldwide as well as cardiorespiratory diseases in elderly population are related to this pollutant. In this context, this paper aims at evaluating the atmospheric dispersion of PM in a stretch of a highway (Anhanguera-Bandeirantes) in the São Paulo State in Brazil due to the road freight transport considering the use of diesel and LNG in heavy-duty vehicles and the impacts on human health. The software AERMOD designed by U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) was used for modeling the PM atmospheric dispersion. The methodology suggested by WHO was used to quantify the deaths attributable to air pollution and Monte Carlo simulation was applied to calculate a range of possible deaths. Results from concentrations are showed in terms of PM10 and PM2.5 and the deaths due to lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that can be attributed to these pollutants.