New White Paper Warns of Gasoline’s Growing Health Risks
Source: Clean Fuels Development Coalition • Posted: Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Washington, DC, June 3, 2014: Gasoline exhaust is a much greater source of toxic emissions than previously reported, and lethal, ultra-fine particulates are not being adequately regulated and controlled. according to a new White Paper released here today.
The paper was written by David E. Hallberg, the founder and first president of the Renewable Fuels Association. Hallberg writes that the petroleum industry is refining gasoline with high levels of toxic aromatics that combust into benzene and other carcinogenic pollutants. This gasoline that is reaching consumers represents a serious health threat but cost effective alternatives are available.
The paper provides references and sources a range of studies that Mr. Hallberg believes establish science-based evidence of adverse health effects ranging from asthma to autism. He also criticizes US Environmental Protection Agency( EPA) modeling that under-reports the threat and shows that real time measurements of particulates in urban areas proves there is a much bigger problem than EPA acknowledges. These particulates are formed when aromatics used to boost gasoline octane resist complete combustion and produce tiny, invisible particles that can directly enter the bloodstream and travel further and persist longer than the larger particulates currently sourced to power plants and diesel.
“At a time when the petroleum industry is spending millions to discredit clean octane products that can be used to protect public health, EPA needs to re-assess their protocols and recognize this growing threat” said Hallberg. He added that mid-Level ethanol blends can provide significantly greater emission health, and economic benefits than EPA models indicate.,
The paper was released at a workshop held by the Energy Future Coalition in Washington, D.C. This workshop followed a previous workshop held at the National Academy of Sciences examining the health impacts of these ultra-fine particulates. Today’s workshop brought together leading experts and policymakers to discuss fuel and filter technology options for avoiding or controlling such particles and the toxic substances that can accompany them, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
The White Paper is part of an ongoing series and was published by the Ethanol Across America Education campaign. It is available on line at www.ethanolacrossamerica.net.