AUTOMOTIVE EMISSION POLLUTION AND HEALTH HAZARDS. There were times when we used to breathe pure oxygen due to which our fore-fathers lived for many years, but today its very difficult even to cross the age of 50, Why? Due to pollution. Yes the air we breathe is totally polluted, what we breathe today is almost 75% Co2 (Carbon dioxide). Do you own a 2 wheeler, 3 wheeler or a 4 wheeler? How many times have you taken your vehicle to the dealer for proper servicing? Probably just for the first free service and then up to 25,000 Km. Sv. Later you take your vehicle to a local service center to save the expense, because the dealer performs periodic service as per manufacturers service specifications which cost more than you expect to spend on your road-runner. Do you know the advantages and disadvantages of not performing your periodic service at the local dealer? I dont think so. You are just concerned with the money and want your vehicle to run as long as it can, and get you where you want to go, you are least bothered about the health hazard you create for other humans due to your stingy attitude, you like to own a cow and get milk, but you dont bother to take that same cow to a veterinarian when its ill, but instead you call in a local unqualified veterinarian to do the task due to which your precious cow dies, so is the case of your vehicle. Most probably youll wonder why I do these types of write-ups, its because Im concerned with yours and my health, well for your information Id like to give a few details concerning the hazards we face due to pollution and our negligence.
By the way, available fuel in India at present is not standard, but a mixture, kerosene is mixed with gasoline and diesel as well, which increases pollution, as well as hazard to human health and ecology, I have seen overseas where diesel vehicles do run but dont give out black smoke as vehicles on Indian roads do, the reason is Govt. Emission Control, with corruption at every level emission cannot be controlled specially in India, although our Govt. is trying its level best to do so. What is Automotive Pollution? Internal combustion engines need a mixture of air and fuel to burn and produce energy to move the vehicle; it is these burnt gases which come out of the exhaust which have the potential to cause pollution. In petrol engines the gases comprise of a mixture of un-burnt hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx). It is a combination of these gases which result in automotive pollution when they are in excess quantity. Within a certain range they are acceptable but when the engine is not tuned properly or a vehicle uses obsolete technology or the quality of fuel is not good all these result in a higher level of emission of all the gases. If the air fuel mixture ratio is not correct then it increases the chances of pollution as it leads to inefficiency. Also it leads to reduced power and fuel wastage, which in turn means less efficient performance of the engine along with lower fuel economy. Alternate Fuels:- The entire surface transport of India is based on petroleum fuel, but its availability is of growing concern. The production of domestic crude has been declining and the transport system has been increasingly dependent on imported crude oil to meet the needs. There is growing concern that the world may run out of petroleum based fuel resources. All these make it imperative that the search for alternative fuels is taken in right earnest. The alternative fuels aspiring to take the place of petroleum are: Propane: Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consists mainly of propane, propylene, butane, and butylenes in various mixtures. It is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. With propanes simple molecular composition, propane-fueled vehicles emit significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides then gasoline-fueled vehicles. The level of air-toxic emissions from propane-fueled vehicles is also low. According to the National Propane Gas Association, U.S.A., spark plugs from a propane vehicle last from 80,000 to 100,000 miles and propane engines can last two to three times longer than gasoline or diesel engines. Ethanol: Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol, Grain Alcohol, and ETOH) is a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic, agreeable odor. Two higher blends of ethanol, E-85 and E-95 are being explored as alternative fuels in demonstration programs. Ethanol is also made into ether, ethyitertiary-butyl ether (ETBE), which has properties of interest for oxygenated gasoline and reformulated fuels. The environmental benefits of ethanol include: 10% ethanol blends reduce carbon monoxide better than any other reformulated gasoline blend... Ethanol is a safe replacement for toxic octane enhancers in gasoline such as benzene, toluene and xylem. ETBE lowers gasoline volatility and is, thus, particularly effective in reducing VOC emissions from automobiles. Methanol: Methanol (CH30H) is an alcohol fuel. As engine fuels, ethanol and methanol have similar chemical and physical characteristics. Methanis is methane with one hydrogen molecule replaced by a hydroxyl radical. It is produced from natural gas in production plants with 60% total energy efficiency. Methanol can be made with any renewable resource containing carbon such as seaweed, waste wood and garbage. This is a promising alternative, with a diversity of fuel applications with proven environmental, economic and consumer benefits. It is widely used today to produce the oxygenate MTBE added to cleaner burning gasoline. Cars, trucks and busses running millions of kilometers on methanol have proven its use as total replacement for gasoline and diesel fuels in conventional engines. Methanol offers the greatest hope for early and broad introduction of fuel cells that will make Electric vehicles practical within the next few years. Whether reformed to prove hydrogen for conventional fuel cells or overcome the greatest remaining obstacle to commercialization, by offering the only economical way to transport and store the hydrogen needed for fuel cells. Methanol fuel cells will greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions for vehicles and virtually eliminate smog and particulate pollution. Bio Diesel: Biodiesel (mono alkyl esters) is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel made from natural, renewable sources such as vegetable oils. Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in combustion-ignition engines. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. It also decreases the solid carbon fraction of particulate matter (since the oxygen in biodiesel enables more complete combustion to CO2), eliminates the sulfate fraction (as there is no sulfur in the fuel), while the soluble, or hydrocarbon, fraction stays the same or in increased. Therefore, biodiesel works well with new technologies such as catalysts (which reduces the soluble fraction of diesel particulate but not the solid carbon fraction), particulate traps, and exhaust gas recirculation (potentially longer engine life due to less carbon). Electric Fuel: Electricity is unique among the alternative fuels in that mechanical power is derived directly from it, whereas the other alternative fuels release stored chemical energy through combustion to provide mechanical power. Batteries commonly provide electricity used to power vehicles, but fuel cells are being explored. Batteries are energy storage devices, but unlike batteries, fuel cells convert chemical energy to electricity. A large number of various types of batteries are being tested for use in EVs. Some of the technologies being used or evaluated include lead-acid, nickel cadmium, nickel iron, nickel zinc, nickel metal hydride, sodium nickel chloride, zinc bromine, sodium sulfur, lithium, zinc air, and aluminum air. The first benefit of using electric fuel is that you are not polluting the environment. Although, some people argue that there are some emissions that can be attributed to EVs the emissions that are generated in the electricity production process at the power plants. The maintenance costs for EVs is less, EVs have fewer moving parts to service and replace. Pollution Hazards and Human Health:- The major pollutants emitted by motor vehicles include CO, NOx, Sulphur oxides, (SO), HC, lead (Pb) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). These pollutants have damaging effects on both human health and ecology. The human health effects of air pollution vary in the degree of severity, covering a range of minor effects to serious illness, as well as premature death in certain cases. Most of the conventional air pollutants are believed to directly affect the respiratory and cardio-vascular system. In particular, high levels of SO2 and SPM are associated with increased mortality, morbidity and impaired pulmonary function, Lead prevents hemoglobin synthesis in red blood cells in bone marrow, impairs liver and kidney function and causes neurological damage. Pollutant effects on Human Health:- Pollutants can affect the cardiovascular system, exacerbating cardiovascular disease symptoms, particularly angina; may also particularly affect fetuses, sickle cell anaemics and young children. Carbon monoxide can affect the central nervous system, impairing physical coordination, vision and judgment, creating nausea and headaches reducing worker productivity and increasing personal discomfort. Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) can affect the respiratory system. Nitrogen monoxide and Nitrogen dioxide play a part in photochemical some formation, it may contribute to increased susceptibility infections, pulmonary disease, impairment of lung function and eye, nose and thread irritations, it can also contribute significantly to acid deposition damaging aquatic eco-systems and other eco-systems such as forests, NOx can also have a fertilizing effect on forests. Sulfur oxides (SO2) can affect lung function, it can also affect aquatic and forest eco-systems, sulphates can affect the perception of the environment by reducing visibility even at low concentrations. Fine particulate matter may be toxic in itself or may carry toxic (including carcinogenic) trace substance, and can alter the immune system. Fine particulate can penetrate deep into the respiratory system irritating lung tissue and causing long term disorders. It can further cause brain damage, encephalopathy in children resulting in lower IQ, death, hyperactivity and reduced ability to concentrate. So friends lets not ignore the pollutants we breath which destroys our health and that of our future generation, but try to avoid and raise awareness so that we all can live peacefully in a pollution free environment. Best wishes to all, and good health. Sanny Vaz Kuwait. Sanny De Quepem. _________________________________________________________________ Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.com/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12hohmbmh/M=323294.6903899.7846637.3022212/D=groups/S=1705013620:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1124740753/A=2896129/R=0/SIG=11llkm9tk/*http://www.donorschoose.org/index.php?lc=yahooemail";>DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. 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