The predominance of fossil fuel use worldwide and its impact on air quality and climate has resulted in air pollution becoming the greatest environmental risk to health. The WHO estimated that 44 deaths per 100,000 population were attributed to air pollution in 2016 in T&T. This is one of the highest death rates attributable to ambient air pollution in the Americas. It can be argued that vehicles, powered by fossil fuels, have now become the principal source of exposure to air pollution because of their prevalence and the proximity of the exhaust emissions to people.

Since the 1960s, the number of motor vehicles worldwide has been growing faster than the population. The worldwide trend in the increase of motor vehicles is also occurring locally. The large volume of cars in relation to road capacity, results in significant traffic congestions during peak traffic times in and out of the major cities. When this occurs, morbidity and mortality risks increase for motorists, travellers and persons living near roadways, as confirmed by epidemiological research, assessments of proposed vehicle emission standards, and environmental impact assessments for road projects. Since T&T’s transport sector is heavily based on fossil fuels which can be associated with PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, O3, CO and CO2 emissions, there is a need for emission standards, enforcement of legislation, regulations, and policies in the transport sector in Trinidad and Tobago, to deal with the negative impacts to air quality.

To guide the development of required standards, legislation, regulations, and policies, there is a need not only to quantify the level of air pollution but also to evaluate the relationship between pollution levels and vehicular traffic related emissions. A review of literature has revealed limited information locally on the relationship between vehicular emissions and air quality in Trinidad and Tobago. This will be explored to justify the need for country specific data to develop strategies and policies to mitigate the negative effects.

Wednesday 12th April, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

Treina Dinoo Ramlochan is a Technical Officer II in the Air Unit of the Environmental Management Authority. She has over seventeen (17) years of experience in environmental management, permitting and compliance at a regulatory agency. For the past eight (8) years she has worked in the Air Unit, specialising in air quality management and climate change, where she has provided valuable contributions to the establishment and operation of the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network and the newly established Monitoring, Reporting and Verification sub-unit.

She holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science Degree in Environmental Technology from COSTATT and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Geography and Environment (First Class Honours) from the University of London. She is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) at The University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Treina also holds a Diploma in Greenhouse Gas Measurement, Reporting and Verification from the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute. In the field of air quality, she has completed Professional Development Courses with the University of the West of England in Air Quality Monitoring, Air Quality Dispersion Modelling, Air Quality Assessments, and Air Quality Action Planning. She is certified in the use of CALPUFF and AERMOD for Air Dispersion Modelling.

Ms. Ramlochan is trained in the operation and maintenance of ambient air quality monitoring equipment. and completed training with the US Environmental Protection Agency in network design and site selection for ambient air quality monitoring stations, air pollution control systems for selected industries and risk assessment/ risk management for hazardous air pollutants.