http://www.reuters.com/article/envir...43908120070228
http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news...28/038573.html




WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2007 -- Diesel fumes pose a major health risk to
commuters, according to a new report by the non-profit Clean Air Task
Force.
The Boston-based environmental research group reported today that even
though we spend only a tiny portion of our day commuting, it's during
the commute that we receive more than half our overall exposure to
deadly fine particle pollution.
"Exposure to diesel exhaust during commutes poses a serious public
health risk that needs to be addressed," said George Thurston,
Professor of Environmental Medicine at New York University's School of
Medicine, who wrote the foreword to the report.
Fine particle pollution, including diesel exhaust, can cause lung
cancer, stroke, heart attack and infant death. It also triggers asthma
attacks and makes people more likely to become allergic.
Some health researchers have estimated that such fine particles are
responsible for shortening the lives of at least 70,000 Americans each
year.
The Task Force specifically investigated diesel exhaust levels during
commutes in New York, NY; Boston, MA; Austin, TX and Columbus, OH. The
Task Force documented diesel particle levels four to eight times
higher inside commuter cars, buses, and trains than in the ambient
outdoor air in those cities. These are examples of likely results
during a commute anywhere in the country where there is significant
diesel traffic.
"Our investigation demonstrated that you may be exposed to high levels
of diesel particles -- four to eight times the levels in the outdoor
air -- whether you commute by car, bus, ferry, train, or on foot,"
said Bruce Hill, Senior Scientist with CATF.
By contrast, Hill noted, pollution levels were negligible for
commuters in and near vehicles equipped with modern pollution controls
or those that run on lower polluting fuels such as natural gas.
"The problem is that there are 13 million diesel engines in service
today, and virtually all are exempt from modern pollution controls,"
said Conrad Schneider, Advocacy Director for the Task Force. "However,
our study showed that simply replacing the muffler of trucks or buses
with a diesel particle filter can reduce commuter exposure
substantially," he said. By EPA regulation, the Ultra-Low Sulfur
Diesel (ULSD) fuel that is necessary to keep these diesel particle
filters operating optimally became available nationwide late last
year.
The Task Force called on federal and state agencies to increase
funding to clean up highly polluting buses and other existing diesel
engines. It urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require
that long-haul trucks clean up when their engines are rebuilt. It also
urged the EPA to move ahead with plans to set new pollution standards
for diesel trains and diesel-powered boats, including commuter ferries.

I don't think the small number of European diesel cars on the road make much
of a contribution compared to the number of large displacement diesels in
service.
How much can my 1600cc VW diesel contribute, at 48 MPG and 20 gallons per
month, or my 3 liter Benz?
--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty

greek_philosophizer wrote:

"Our investigation demonstrated that you may be exposed to high levels
So what. Have they demonstrated that a four fold to eight fold increase
actually means something. I see no proof (in this article) that there is
a problem here.
EJ in NJ

In article <54qnplF22b28lU1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net>,
"Stupendous Man" <spam (AT) trap (DOT) com> wrote:

It's visible coming out of your pipe, fancy tests aren't needed.

However the new diesels using the new (in NA) much cleaner diesel fuel
may do the trick to make diesel's more acceptable.

"who" <i (AT) notaspammer (DOT) net> wrote


Clearly you don't know much about electronic controls on diesels, nor do you
know much about modern diesel engines.

And as far as "stink" goes, I'd bet that if we put you in an gasoline fume
free environment for a few hours, you'd smell those again as well. I'd
venture a guess and say that the smell of gasoline burning engines is so
prevalent that we as a population sumply don't notice it that much anymore.
Sad really.
--
Max

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"who" <i (AT) notaspammer (DOT) net> wrote

"who" <i (AT) notaspammer (DOT) net> wrote

I hope you mean with "new (NA)" that this ULSD is new in NA but has been
used in Europe for many many years (in many European countries as the only
available diesel fuel quality).

Considering particles, then it may be correct to follow visual symptoms but
that may not always be the right conclusion. Could be that you actually
cannot see those particles that are really a health issue.

Probably would be OK to dumb those 13 million US cars and replace those and
another 50 million with modern diesel cars.

"Anonymous" <anonymous (AT) mycomputer (DOT) net> wrote

In the UK we pay road tax based on the cars emmissions.
My E220 CDI is in a lower band than my old C180K even though it is a bit
faster and a bit bigger.
The emmissions mist be lower.
My SLK350 is still not even in the top band for road tax.
These German cars are as clean and efficient as possible.

greek_philosophizer wrote:
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!


--
..boB
2006 FXDI hot rod
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1965 FFR Cobra - 427W EFI, Damn Fast.

In news:45e948c8$0$764$5a6aecb4 (AT) news (DOT) aaisp.net.uk,
Gordon Hudson <hostroute (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wittered on forthwith;
Supercharged vehicles don't do well in the Co2 tests though.

Personally I think that diesel engines should be taxed significantly higher
than petrol engines, I don't like diesel fumes, I don't like the clouds of
black smoke that come out of turbo diesels when the turbo spins up on gently
driven ones, I don't like the smelly, nasty and dangeously slippy fuel that
is spilt all over garage forecourts and roundabouts, I don't like the noise
from diesel engines, or to drive them with their narrow torque band and I
don't like the way that lots of "company car" diesels are driven by complete
muppets who drive exceptionally badly as if to say "This car might be diesel
but I can drive dangerously enough to prove it's as quick as a petrol
engined one".


--
Pete M - Using the Scouse Side of the Force -
Golf GTi,
Mercedes 190E Auto
OMF#9

Currently listening to "The Dead Class - Boo"

I hate to be the one to bring this to your attention, but everyone is
going to DIE even if they live in an environmentally controlled padded
room. People should be worrying about the wackos in the Middle East
and Korea, they are much more likely to kill you and much sooner than
"fine particles"!

Grow up and stop being used by the "We'll save you, Control Police"!

Bruce