Particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Particulate Matter Emissions From Two-Wheel Motor Vehicles

Two-wheeled powered motor vehicles are an important pollutant source especially in urban areas. ENEA, in cooperation with Municipality of Rome, carried out an experimental activity aimed at evaluate particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions from two-wheel motor vehicles.

In this paper, cold and hot PM and particulate PAHs emissions from eight 2-stroke 50 cc in-use mopeds, (3 pre-Euro I, 3 Euro I and 2 Euro II) and four 4-stroke 150 cc in-use scooters (2 pre-Euro I and 2 Euro I), are presented. Mopeds and scooters were tested according to ECE-47 and ECE-40 driving cycles, respectively.

Obtained results show that two-wheel motor vehicles are important pollution sources of PM and PAHs and their contribution should be considered in urban emission inventories. Referring to 2003 Italian fleet activity data results obtained in this work show that in urban areas mopeds contribution to particulate matter emissions is 1.6 x 10₆ kg. This figure is comparable with the diesel passenger cars contribution of 2 x 10₆ kg., calculated from hot PM emissions factors reported in COPERT III database.