A Benefit-Cost Study of Implementing Particulate Matter Filters onto Motorbikes in Kenya

As the world battles various forms of pollution, air pollution in the Republic of Kenya is taking a toll on citizens' health. With levels of air quality being above the World Health Organization’s guidelines for the past 40 years, people continue to suffer from long-term cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses caused by particulate matter. Aside from health effects, Particulate Matter (PM) is also directly affecting crop yields around the world through climate change. Additionally, fuel economy is two to three times worse in Kenya than in other areas, allowing motorbikes and other vehicles to be the main source of elevated PM levels in the air. This paper aims to quantify the costs and benefits of implementing a PM filter onto motorbikes in Kenya. Alternative methods for eliminating this form of air pollution include porosity, electrostatic, and thermal radiation filters. Utilizing knowledge from these classifications of filters that are being tested and data on the PM levels in Nairobi, Kenya from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), this analysis can estimate the most effective course of action to minimize the amount of particulate matter put into the air. From the collected research and analysis, a thermal radiation filter installed on motorbikes in Kenya would be the most cost-effective solution. By implementing thermal radiation filters, the PM would be reduced by approximately 6.62 μg/cm³ per year resulting in an associated $567 million of annual benefits.