Advanced BioFuels USA

by Keith Randal (Texas A&M University)  Texas A&M researchers are part of a team that analyzed how auto exhaust in large cities, especially in China, is linked to air quality and health problems.  — Tiny matter called “ultrafine particles” in the atmosphere are un-regulated, according to the World Health Organization, but a team of international researchers that includes a Texas A&M University professor and two graduate students has found that auto emissions are a key factor in the creation of the particles, and pose a significant health problem in many urban areas.

Renyi Zhang, Texas A&M distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences and the Harold J. Haynes Chair in Geosciences, and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin, the University of California-San Diego, the California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and several Chinese universities have had their work published in the latest issue of PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

The team studied auto emissions relevant to urban areas, especially Beijing, which has some of the highest pollution from auto exhaust in the world.

It found that the auto exhaust plays a part in the creation of large amounts of ultrafine particles, tiny matter that is no wider than one-thousandth of a human hair. These tiny particles are a proven harmful contributor to air quality and human health and have been linked to birth defects.  READ MORE

Remarkable nucleation and growth of ultrafine particles from vehicular exhaust (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

Let’s Talk Technical (Urban Air Initiative)

Fossil Fuels Cost the US Economy Billions According to Greenpeace Report (Our Daily Planet)

Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuels (Greenpeace)

Fossil fuel pollution behind 4m premature deaths a year – study (The Guardian)

Exposure to ultra-fine particles is linked to nonfatal heart attacks (Air Quality News)

Emissions offer ‘pandemic’ level health problems — study (E&E News)

Excerpt from Urban Air Initiative: The study focuses on the significant dangers of ultrafine particulates (UFPs) coming out of the tailpipe. While it does not focus on the exact source, we know based on extensive research that aromatics in gasoline are why UFPs are created. 

The study states, “Ultrafine particles can penetrate easily through human lungs and reach many vital organs. The impacts of ultrafine particles on human health can be far-reaching. Currently, ultrafine particles are un-regulated. They can be present in high concentrations, but you still see blue sky.”

This is what UAI has been working to educate the ethanol industry, EPA and other stakeholders about for years. We know that adding more ethanol to gasoline can significantly reduce aromatics and therefore UFPs, protecting public health. We applaud this study and researchers looking into these important issues. The next step will be connecting the dots to aromatics and the cleaner octane source, ethanol.  READ MORE