Following in the wake of the VW diesel engine emissions scandal, serious questions are finally being asked with regard to exhaust pollution. Car manufacturers have published data on the emissions from their vehicles for many years, but there has been a widespread scepticism as to how these figures have been achieved. The issue of claimed road vehicle exhaust emissions is a case of smoke and mirrors.
Following in the wake of the VW diesel engine emissions scandal, serious questions are finally being asked with regard to exhaust pollution. Car manufacturers have published data on the emissions from their vehicles for many years, but there has been a widespread scepticism as to how these figures have been achieved. The issue of claimed road vehicle exhaust emissions is a case of smoke and mirrors.
What the VW scandal has revealed is that manufacturers have in some instances, deliberately rigged the results. The penalties for VW and those other firms that have behaved in such a cynical fashion have yet to be established, but there is no doubt that these will be severe.
And there is good reason for concern. Diesel pollution is carcinogenic and can cause cancers to form in the lungs and bladder as well as damaging their functioning and can also initiate heart disease.
In many cities around the world such as Beijing, Delhi, Mexico City and Santiago, airborne pollution is a major problem. The impact on human health is enormous, with thousands (and possibly million) suffering respiratory illnesses and in some instances, early death. In the UK for instance, research suggests that diesel pollution may be responsible for the early deaths of 40,000 people/year. And there are countries with far worse air pollution problems than the UK.
Tests have shown that in many instances, those most at risk are actually vehicle occupants. The design of air intakes on many vehicles results in the occupants breathing in exhaust fumes, far more so than pedestrians walking at the side of the road or cyclists or motorcyclists using the roadway.
China’s push to boost electric vehicles is a crucial move in helping combat pollution in the country’s major cities. But some of the measures being used to tackle pollution are not so effective, because the nature of the threat to human health has not been fully appreciated.
In the Italian city of Genoa, the local authorities have gone so far as pushing to ban the use of two stroke scooters, in a bid to cut exhaust pollution. In the country that gave the world the Vespa and Lambretta scooters, this has not gone down well with enthusiasts. And those riders do have a point. While the smoky exhaust of a two stroke scooter or motorcycle is visibly dirty, this is far less damaging to the environment or public health than the unseen killer, particulate matter from diesel engines.
The emissions from a two stroke engine combine a percentage of unburnt fuel with lubrication oil, as well as exhaust fumes. While these are visually dirty, the particles are heavy and do not remain airborne for long. And in terms of risk to human health, the micro particulate matter from a diesel exhaust pose a far greater hazard.
An old-fashioned two stroke engine may look dirty as it belches out a purple and blue haze in its wake, but this is not the real villain of the automotive world.
What the VW scandal has revealed is that manufacturers have in some instances, deliberately rigged the results. The penalties for VW and those other firms that have behaved in such a cynical fashion have yet to be established, but there is no doubt that these will be severe.
And there is good reason for concern. Diesel pollution is carcinogenic and can cause cancers to form in the lungs and bladder as well as damaging their functioning and can also initiate heart disease.
In many cities around the world such as Beijing, Delhi, Mexico City and Santiago, airborne pollution is a major problem. The impact on human health is enormous, with thousands (and possibly million) suffering respiratory illnesses and in some instances, early death. In the UK for instance, research suggests that diesel pollution may be responsible for the early deaths of 40,000 people/year. And there are countries with far worse air pollution problems than the UK.
Tests have shown that in many instances, those most at risk are actually vehicle occupants. The design of air intakes on many vehicles results in the occupants breathing in exhaust fumes, far more so than pedestrians walking at the side of the road or cyclists or motorcyclists using the roadway.
China’s push to boost electric vehicles is a crucial move in helping combat pollution in the country’s major cities. But some of the measures being used to tackle pollution are not so effective, because the nature of the threat to human health has not been fully appreciated.
In the Italian city of Genoa, the local authorities have gone so far as pushing to ban the use of two stroke scooters, in a bid to cut exhaust pollution. In the country that gave the world the Vespa and Lambretta scooters, this has not gone down well with enthusiasts. And those riders do have a point. While the smoky exhaust of a two stroke scooter or motorcycle is visibly dirty, this is far less damaging to the environment or public health than the unseen killer, particulate matter from diesel engines.
The emissions from a two stroke engine combine a percentage of unburnt fuel with lubrication oil, as well as exhaust fumes. While these are visually dirty, the particles are heavy and do not remain airborne for long. And in terms of risk to human health, the micro particulate matter from a diesel exhaust pose a far greater hazard.
An old-fashioned two stroke engine may look dirty as it belches out a purple and blue haze in its wake, but this is not the real villain of the automotive world.
