According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Health Center, which is an organization from the National Safety Council of the United States; the driving and functioning of vehicles, apart from others, is the main source of release of pollution in the world. Vehicles with engines release millions of tons of pollution in the air, each year.
These emissions of vehicles, qualified as toxins, are the origin of at least 1,500 cases of cancer in the USA (*), per year, heart, asthmatic and respiratory diseases, ophthalmic and different type of allergies; as well as contributing in serious Environmental Problems, such as acid rain as well as Smog.
The major pollutants produced by gasoline vehicles are:
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Hydrocarbons (HC)
- Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Odorless and Colorless, it is extremely toxic and poisonous. When it is inhaled it enters the circulatory system, inhibiting the absorption capacity of oxygen through blood. It is a cause for vertigo, headaches and fatigue. In high concentrations it can be fatal. (*3)
Hydrocarbons (HC) Contribute, in an outstanding way, in the formation of smog, they are carcinogenic, they irritate the eyes, produce respiratory and lung diseases and can also cause permanent damages. (*3)
Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) It is the main contributor in the formation of the Ozone at ground level (biosphere) where it has negative effects over human beings, its life systems and the Environment (*7). It also contributes in the formation of Acid Rain, which damages vegetation and the chemistry of water of rivers, lakes, bays, and other water concentrations. It reacts along with the hydrocarbons under sunlight, causing smog, which also damages human and wild life. It produces asthmatic diseases, infantile cough, nausea, sore throat, and in general, respiratory and allergic diseases. (*3)
Of all the emissions of the United States, according to the studies of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Safety Council (NSC); vehicles are responsible for two thirds of the emissions of carbon monoxide, and half of the Ozone emissions at ground level.(*4)
"Poorly maintained or malfunctioning vehicles, can release as much as 10 times the emissions of well maintained ones." (*)
SOURCE:
(*) Environmental Health Center. A Division of the National Safety Council. Washington, DC 20036 September 9, 2002.
What You Can Do About Car Emissions. 16 December 1998.
The oldest vehicles are generally the ones that pollute the most. In the United States the average age of an automobile is 8.9 years.
The EPA has discovered that 30% of vehicles that are older than 5 years release much more than which they were designed to, contributing with the environment's pollution, 70% more than other vehicles. In addition, 55% of vehicles older than 7 years are the greatest releasers of pollution.
Of all of the emissions, the vehicles are producing the following:
In United States (*5) In Sweden (*6) |
| The 81 % of Carbon Monoxide (CO) ---------------------------- |
| The 49 % of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) The 40 % of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) |
| -------------------------------------------- The 30 % of Hydrocarbons (HC) |
This situation, which already means an excess of pollution, and which makes the balance of the Environment so fragile, is dangerously increasing and damaging it even more because of the massive circulation of gas vehicles, which have installed (without anyone being aware of it) sparkplugs with a inadequate thermal range for their specific conditions for operation, maintenance and driving purposes.
This situation, only in the skies of the United States of America, annually generates an additional input of emissions as follows:
| 2'617,229 tons of (CO) Carbon Monoxide |
| 713,229 tons of (HC) Hydrocarbons |
| 520,103 tons of (NOx) Nitrogen Oxide |
The reasons for this dangerous pollution are based on the general ignorance of the importance of the Thermal Range of the Sparkplugs that lead to an inadequate procedure for selling sparkplugs.
| SOURCE: |
(*) Environmental Health Center (EHC) a Division of the National Safety Council (NSC): "What you can do about Car Emissions" - Car Emissions - A Problem? Dec. 16, 1998
(*2) Bosh Motronic Manual Nº 1-987-722425, page 40g
Environmental Health Center (EHC) a Division of the National Safety Council (NSC): "What you can do about Car Emissions" - What Pollutants Do Motor Vehicles Emit and What Are the Health Effects? Dec. 16, 1998
(*3) Environmental Health Center (EHC) a Division of the National Safety Council (NSC): "Air Pollution Fact Sheet" - What Are the Major Air Pollutants?
(*4) "The Clean Air Act "- Major Pollutants and Mobile Source Emissions (page 10) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
(*5) "The Clean Air Act "- Major Pollutants and Mobile Source Emissions (page 7) August, 11 1999
(*6) Swedish National Road Administration Publication 1995: 15 published by Volvo Environmental Report 1995 - page 23
(*7) Technical Presentation V70 (P26) December 1999 Section 2 "Convertidor de Ozono, Prem-Air" |
