MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS : THREAT TO AGRICULTURE

Various studies would show that motor vehicle emissions is largely harmful to a person’s health . Respiratory related diseases afflicting both the young and the old have all been attributed to a high degree of street pollution. The health cost of air pollution in four cities (Metro Manila, Davao, Baguio and Cebu) had been estimated to be more than US$$00 million per year; equivalent to .06% of the country’s national gross domestic product (GHP)

Agriculture is a way of life in Mindanao ; so I was particularly struck by a study done in 1990-1995 in the United States that showed the effects of ozone air pollution on the agricultural sector . The document that I read noted the economic impact of air pollution on agriculture and said that a 25% reduction in ambient ozone would provide benefits of at least $1–2billion annually in the United States(US).

This paper extends existing research by estimating the benefits of a reduction in emissions from a major source of ozone formation: motor-vehicle emissions. An agricultural production model is combined with an analysis of motor-vehicle emissions and air quality to estimate the impacts of emissions from six different motor vehicle classes at both the regional and national level. The benefits to the agricultural sector from completely
eliminating ozone precursor emissions from motor vehicles ranges between $3·5 and $6·1billion annually. The detrimental effects of ambient ozone, even at relatively low concentrations are well established (Heck and Brandt 1977, California Air Resources Board 1987) .

Studies show that ozone enters plant leaves through the stomatal openings in the leaf surface and produce by products that reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis. Research suggest that ozone either alone or in combination with nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide may be responsible for up to 90% of crop losses resulting from air pollution . In an effort to address this problem, the Clean Air Act and its amendments in the US include air pollution damage to vegetation as one of the criteria by which air quality standards are evaluated.

There is an economic cost associated with this reduced productivity. There is a special focus on motor vehicles because they are the largest source of ozone emissions (Davis1997 ) and because of the growing general interest of the full social cost of motor vehicles.

International studies have shown that 25% reduction in the ambient ozone
would result to 1-2 billion dollars benefit to the agriculture sector of the US.

There were eight major crops that was tested and these were
corn, soybeans,wheat, alfalfa hay, cotton, grain sorghum, rice and barley.
The studies had indicated that ozone causes substantial losses to soybeans and corn.

Ozone formed from the emission of motor vehicles caused $2.0-$3.3 billion in damages to these eight crops. Gasoline vehicles cause much greater damages than the diesel vehicles because they emit more volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), which is one of the main precursor to ozone formation. These estimated damages are of course lesser than the damages done by vehicles emission to human health. But note that even a 10% reduction in vehicle emission may yield about $.05 billion in economic benefits in the US.

The issue of the hazards of air pollution and the gravity of it had not really sunk into the consciousness of many people in Mindanao. First, because we still have vast land resources as against the number of motor vehicles plying our streets. We still have the luxury of breathing clean air despite the large presence of vehicle emissions. We should not wait for the day when we become like another Manila where walking in the streets is like walking in the chamber of death .

Our Mindanao Land Transportation Offices(LTO) and the private emission test operators must show Manila that they have the political will to impose the emission test of motor vehicles with integrity. That the unscrupulous “fixers” at the LTO will come to their senses and realize that it is their family’s health that they are putting at stake for every “dirty” penny that they get. And that the vehicle owners undergo the process of testing and not circumvent the law by tolerating and patronizing corrupt practices in the testing process.
Remember that our people’s health as well as our fauna and agriculture is our only treasure in Mindanao!