Home >> Background >> Existing Conditions >> Air

Transportation has long been cited as the major contributor to declining air quality in the country. In the Providence-Pawtucket metropolitan area, cars and heavy trucks are responsible for 48.5% of the criteria air pollutants (CAP) emitted [15]. These air pollutants have been shown to cause serious health problems, such as cancer, asthma, and lung damage. One pollutant of important concern is ground level ozone, formed by reactions between nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons. Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons are emitted primarily by mobile sources [16]. Pursuant to the Clean Air Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency designated Rhode Island as a nonattainment area for ozone. In 2002, Rhode Island exceeded both the 1-hour and the 8-hour ozone standard [17]. Continued violation of the ozone standards not only threatens public health, but also jeopardizes the state's federal highway funds.

Cars and trucks are also primary emitters of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Inventory estimates that the transportation sector is responsible for 1.1 MMCTE (million metric tons of carbon equivalent) of the 2.6 MMCTE of CO2 emitted in the state. Most of the scientific community will agree that these greenhouse gas emissions can can cause significant changes in the climate.

Printer Version