Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The environmental effects of the CNG bus program on metropolitan air quality in Korea

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
The Annals of Regional Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the compressed natural gas (CNG) bus program on air quality in seven metropolitan cities in Korea. Two hundred and fifty-nine cases from monthly panel data covering June 2005 to June 2008 were analyzed. Natural and sociological characteristics in each city were included as control variables. The Chinese Air Pollution Index was also considered based on previous studies demonstrating that air quality in Korea is adversely affected by transboundary pollution from China. The relationship between five air pollutants (SO2, NO2, O3, CO, and PM10) and the CNG bus ratio was analyzed by panel data analysis. The key findings are as follows. CO and PM10 significantly decrease with an increase in the CNG bus ratio. On the other hand, SO2 and NO2 demonstrate no statistically significant relationship with CNG bus ratio, while O3 appears to have a slightly positive relationship. In addition, the results indicate that air pollution from China contributes to the increase in PM10 and O3 in Korea approximately at the threshold of 100 in Chinese Air Pollution Index. Even though introducing CNG buses can reduce the level of PM10, it might be also increased due to the pollutants from China.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aall C, Groven K, Lindseth G (2007) The scope of action for local climate policy: the case of Norway. Glob Environ Politics 7(2): 83–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger N, Arnell N, Tompkins E (2005) Successful adaptation to climate change across scales. Glob Environ Change 15: 77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahouissoussi N, Wetzstein M (1998) A comparative cost analysis of biodiesel, compressed natural gas, methanol, and diesel for transit bus systems. Resour Energy Econ 20(1): 1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akbostanc E, Turut-Asik S, Tunca G (2009) The relationship between income and environment in Turkey: is there an environmental Kuznets curve?. Energy Policy 37(3): 861–867

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amemiya T (1985) Advanced econometrics. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Aslam M, Masjuki H et al (2005) An experimental investigation of CNG as an alternative fuel for a retrofitted gasoline vehicle. Fuel 85(5): 717–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltagi B (2008) Econometric analysis of panel data. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond M (2010) Localizing climate change: stepping up local climate action. Manage Environ Qual Int J 21(2): 214–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bose R, Sperling D (2001) Transportation in developing countries: greenhouse gas scenarios for Delhi, India. Institute of Transportation Studies, Berkeley, pp, pp 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Busan city. http://english.busan.go.kr/community/news/ 11 Jun 2008

  • Chae Y (2010) Co-benefit analysis of an air quality management plan and greenhouse gas reduction strategies in the Seoul metropolitan area. Environ Sci Policy 13(3): 205–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chelani A, Devotta S (2007) Air quality assessment in Delhi: before and after CNG as fuel. Environ Monit Assess 125: 257–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J, Hammitt J, Levy J (2003) Fuels for urban transit buses: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Environ Sci Technol 37(8): 1477–1484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen T (2005) Diesel vs. compressed natural gas for school buses: a cost-effectiveness evaluation of alternative fuels. Energy Policy 33(13): 1709–1722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daegu city. http://www.daegu.go.kr/. Korea Association for Natural Gas Vehicles

  • Das D (2010) Commercial vehicles in Delhi: diesel demand and sulphur emission. J Public Transp 13(1): 73–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong (n.d.) Environmental Protection Department. http://www.epd-asg.gov.hk/eindex.php

  • Environmental Protection Headquarters, Seoul Metropolitan Government, 2008. http://env.seoul.go.kr

  • Gas Vehicle Report (2009) NGV communications group. http://www.ngvgroup.com/pdf/gvr93-102009.pdf

  • Gonçalves M, Jiménez-Guerrero P et al (2009) High resolution modeling of the effects of alternative fuels use on urban air quality: introduction of natural gas vehicles in Barcelona and Madrid Greater Areas (Spain). Sci Total Environ 407: 776–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greene W (2003) Econometric analysis. Prentice Hall, New Jersy

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammond D, Jones S, Lalor M (2007) In-vehicle measurement of ultra-fine particles on compressed natural gas, conventional diesel, and oxidation-catalyst diesel heavy-duty transit buses. Environ Monit Assess 125: 239–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao J, Hu J, Fu L (2006) Controlling vehicular emissions in Beijing during the last decade. Transp Res Part A Policy Pract 40: 639–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesterberg T, Lapin C, Bunn W (2008) A comparison of emissions from vehicles fueled with diesel or compressed natural gas. Environ Sci Technol 42(17): 6437–6445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Incheon city. http://english.incheon.go.kr/

  • International Energy Agency (1999) Automotive for the future, pp 46–47

  • Jalihal S, Reddy T (2006) Assessment of the impact of improvement measures on air quality: case study of Delhi. J Transp Eng 132: 482–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaramillo P, Griffin W, Matthews H (2007) Comparative life-cycle air emissions of coal, domestic natural gas, LNG, and SNG for electricity generation. Environ Sci Technol 41(17): 6290–6296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaratne R, He C, Ristovski Z et al (2008) A comparative investigation of ultrafine particle number and mass emissions from a fleet of on-road diesel and CNG buses. Aust Environ Sci Technol 42(17): 6736–6742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaratne R, Ristovski Z et al (2010) Carbon dioxide emissions from diesel and compressed natural gas buses during acceleration. Transp Res Part D Transp Environ 15(5): 247–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung Y (1993) A study on the influx of Chinese air pollutants into Korean peninsula. J Environ Res 1: 128–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Kado N, Okamoto R et al (2006) Emissions of toxic pollutants from compressed natural gas and low sulfur diesel-fueled heavy-duty transit buses tested over multiple driving cycles. Environ Sci Technol 39(19): 7638–7649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kampa M, Castanas E (2008) Human health effects of air pollution. Environmental Pollution. 151(2): 362–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kathuria V (2004) Impact of CNG on vehicular pollution in Delhi: a note. Transp Res Part D Transp Environ 9: 409–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khillare P, Hoque R et al (2008) Temporal variability of benzene concentration in the ambient air of Delhi: a comparative assessment of pre- and post-CNG periods. Journal of Hazard Mater 154(1–3): 1013–1018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H, Chung Y (2008) Satellite and ground observations for large-scale air pollution transport in the Yellow Sea region. J Atmos Chem 60(2): 103–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korea Gas Corporation. http://www.kogas.or.kr

  • Korea Meteorological Administration. http://www.kma.go.kr

  • Laden F, Schwartz J, Speizer F, Dockery D (2006) Reduction in Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Mortality: Extended follow-up of the Harvard Six Cities Study. American Journal of Repiratory and Critical Care Medicine 173(6): 667–672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin C, Liu S et al (2007) Long-range transport of Asian dust and air pollutants to Taiwan: observed evidence and model simulation. Atmos Chem Phys 7: 423–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyford-Pike EJ (2003) An emission and performance comparison of the natural gas C-gas plus engine in heavy duty trucks. Final report. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/SR-540-32863

  • Ministry of Environment (2003) Long-term research plan for the management of the research and evaluation of danger and damage from air pollution

  • Ministry of Environment. http://www.me.go.kr

  • Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. http://english.mep.gov.cn/

  • Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. http://www.mltm.go.kr

  • Narain U, Krupnick A (2007) The impact of Delhi’s CNG program on air quality. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=969727

  • National Association of the Bus Transportation Business Combination. http://www.bus.or.kr

  • National Health Insurance Cooperation in Korea http://www.nhic.or.kr/

  • Nordling E, Berglind N, Melén E et al (2008) Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Childhood Respiratory Symptoms, Function and Allergies. Epidemiology 19(3): 401–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nylund NO, Lawson A (2000) Exhaust emissions from natural gas vehicles. International Association of Natural Gas Vehicles, VTT Energy, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Oosterveer P, Vliet B (2010) Environmental systems and local actors: decentralizing environmental policy in Uganda. Environ Manage 45: 284–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul R, Banerjee S, Ghose M (2004) Assessment of the impacts of vehicular emissions on urban air quality and its management in Indian context: the case of Kolkata (Calcutta). Environ Sci Policy 7: 345–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrovic J, Ivkovic I et al (2009) Possibilities of buses on alternative fuel in public urban transport in Belgrade. Technological and economic devolopment of economy. Baltic J Sustain 15(1): 78–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravindra K, Wauters E et al (2006) Assessment of air quality after the implementation of compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel in public transport in Delhi, India. Environ Monit Assess 115(1–3): 405–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds C, Kandlikar M (2008) Climate impacts of air quality policy: switching to a natural gas-fueled public transportation system in New Delhi. Environ Sci Technol 42: 5860–5865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roca J, Serrano M (2007) Income growth and atmospheric pollution in Spain: an input–output approach. Ecol Econ 63(1): 230–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabin L, Kozawa K et al (2005) Analysis of real-time variables affecting children’s exposure to diesel-related pollutants during school bus commutes in Los Angeles. Atmos Environ 39(29): 5243–5254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scriven M (1991) Evaluation thesaurus, 4th edn. Sage, Newbury Park

    Google Scholar 

  • Seoul city. http://english.seoul.go.kr/gtk/news/ Global Perspectives

  • Shim J, Park S (2004) Acidic loadings in South Korean ecosystems by long-range transport and local emissions. Atmos Environ 38: 5623–5636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Korea. http://www.index.go.kr/egams/stts/jsp/potal/stts/PO_STTS_IdxMain.jsp?idx_cd=1008

  • Statistics Korea. http://kosis.kr/index/index.jsp

  • Tzeng G, Lin C, Opricovic S (2005) Multi-criteria analysis of alternative-fuel buses for public transportation. Energy Policy 33(11): 1373–1383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ullman T, Smith L, Anthony J (2002) Emissions from school buses in compressed natural gas, low emitting diesel, and conventional diesel engine configurations. Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulsan city. White Paper (2009) http://www.ulsan.go.kr

  • U.S. EPA (2002) Clean alternative fuels: compressed natural gas

  • Vennemo H, Aunan K, Lindhjem K, Seip H (2009) Environmental pollution in China: status and trends. Rev Environ Econ Policy 3(2): 209–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White Paper (2007) http://www.daejeon.go.kr. Daejeon City

  • White Paper (2008) http://www.gwangju.go.kr. Gwangju City

  • WHO fact sheet. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/index.html

  • World Bank (2004) World development indicators 2004. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2004/06/08/000160016_20040608153404/Rendered/PDF/289690PAPER0WDI02004.pdf

  • World Bank (2008) http://siteresources.worldbank.org/datastatistics/resources/gdp.pdf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Public Administration, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Soon-Ae Park & Hyunwoo Tak

Authors
  1. Soon-Ae Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hyunwoo Tak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soon-Ae Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Park, SA., Tak, H. The environmental effects of the CNG bus program on metropolitan air quality in Korea. Ann Reg Sci 49, 261–287 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-011-0439-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-011-0439-3

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation