Danger thresholds and upper limits of pollutant concentrations are exceeded in several Italian towns also due to specific atmospheric conditions (Italian D.M. 02.04.2002 n. 60 acknowledged Dir. Com. 1999/30/CE, Dir. Com. 2000/69/CE). In particular, PM10 and PM2.5, the inhalable fraction of particulate, constitute a health hazard for the population. Their effect on human health can be evaluated thanks to numerous epidemiological studies. In regard to acoustics, also the levels of quality and emission of noise are often exceeded in urban areas due to traffic. In the present paper the unitary external costs of noise and air pollution were estimated, coming from traditional vehicles and those running on fuel cell technology which could replace the internal combustion engines in the near future. The external costs of atmospheric pollution in traditional vehicles has decreased thanks to the regulations on emissions (Dir. Com 70/157); in any case, the external costs of future fuel cell vehicles result to be less than 79.7% compared to traditional vehicles. The external costs of noise pollution in a future vehicle appear to be less than 56% compared to a traditional vehicle. The main noise source in new vehicles is due to tyre road noise. For the covering abstract see ITRD E128680.
Abstract