In efforts to relieve the streets in Shanghai from toxic exhaust fumes, 1,500 new buses with cleaner emissions have joined routes across town so far this year.

 

In total, 1,750 old buses will be replaced this year, said Huang Xiaoyong, a spokesman for Shanghai Urban Transport Management Bureau, yesterday.

 

"We are trying to reach our goal of replacing about 2,000 buses a year over the next two years," Huang said. The new buses are made by Shanghai Sunwin Bus Co, a joint venture of Shanghai Automotive Industry Co and Swedish-based Volvo Bus Co, said the bureau.

 

They all meet National III emission standards, the highest technical exhaust standards for buses in China, which is comparable to Euro III standards.

 

Bus companies are required to upgrade their vehicles and pay for them.

 

Shanghai has about 18,200 buses operating daily. Most are diesel-powered, with 60 percent of them meeting Euro II emission standards.

 

Health concerns have been growing over the black fumes pumped out by older buses. They contain cancer-causing chemicals such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and lead.

 

Transport officials said poor maintenance could also lead to toxic fumes. "The use of poor-quality fuel, insufficient daily maintenance and traffic jams that force drivers to slow down are also to blame for black fumes," said Huang.

 

"We are monitoring the bus companies to spot vehicles in poor condition. The operators must take the buses out of service, improve them and they will not be allowed back on the roads until they pass our tests," Huang said.

 

The bureau aims to upgrade all city buses to meet National II emission standards by 2009.

 

(Shanghai Daily July 12, 2007)