EMISSIONS OF CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS BY MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE MYKOLAIV CITY DURING THE WAR

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of actual emissions of chemical pollutants by groups of city public and transit vehicles. The author analyzes the gross emissions of chemical compounds from public motor vehicles in the city, and presents a comparative analysis of emissions of CO, NO, NO2, SO2, non-methane volatile organic compounds, methane, ammonia, CO2, and benzopyrene from different groups of vehicles used in the city’s transport system. The purpose of the study was to investigate the anthropogenic load on the urban ecosystem from public transport, using the example of Mykolaiv as an example. The research materials were: data on the public transport infrastructure of Mykolaiv for 2022–2024. The article shows that the transport system of Mykolaiv is an important part of the city and regional infrastructure, providing communication with other cities and districts. The predominance of small cars with diesel engines in the city’s transport infrastructure affects the emissions of environmental pollutants into the city’s atmospheric space. Calculations of emissions of chemical compounds from public transport in Mykolaiv for 2024 are presented. It is shown that public transport with diesel engines emits 2 times more nitrogen dioxide and oxide, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and benzopyrene. Public vehicles with gasoline engines emit up to 10 times more CO, up to 2 times more SO2, and up to 3 times more CO2. It is shown that the emissions of greenhouse gases CO2 by freight transit transport are 2 times higher than those of public urban transport. The necessity of mandatory implementation of environmental initiatives in the city, supplementing the environmental monitoring of atmospheric air in cities with intensive traffic flows with indicative measurements is shown. Further research is planned to focus on finding practical measures to improve the city’s transport infrastructure with the introduction of well-known environmental initiatives. This will help to adapt the city’s transport system to the requirements of the times, creating a sustainable mobile space for residents, as well as bringing it closer to European transport systems for climate change adaptation and sustainable energy development of cities.