US Green Living .com
Transportation Emissions refer to the harmful gases released into the air as a result of the burning of fossil fuels and other energy sources in personal automobiles like cars and motorcycles and forms of public transportation such as buses, marine vessels, and aircraft. Transportation emissions are a major cause of air pollution. These emissions are responsible for smog, acid rain, and a host of harmful health issues. Emissions
regulations and tests have been implemented to decrease the amount of pollutants being released into the air by transportation sources.
The use of new alternative fuels such as biodiesel and the development of new motors, particularly in hybrid vehicles, are other steps taken to reduce the negative effects that transportation emissions have on the environment.
Transportation emissions are a major source of air pollution. Carbon dioxide released from vehicles is a greenhouse gas, so they can be directly linked to global warming. Over 20 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions are caused by automobiles. Nitrogen, also present in vehicle exhaust, is an important component of acid rain. Smog in urban areas caused by transportation emissions causes a host of health problems in humans as it impairs the lungs’ ability to breathe and can cause damage resulting in respiratory diseases.
In automobiles, the inspection and modification of the tailpipe is used to help control emissions. The use of catalytic converters has had a profound impact on lowering emissions. It is place inside the tailpipe and serves to convert emissions into less harmful ones before they are released into the air. Other methods of reducing tailpipe emissions include the air injector reactor and exhaust gas recirculation. Apart from decreasing the amount of pollutants being emitted into the air, tailpipe improvements have also lead to increased engine efficiency in motor vehicles. Less obvious changes in automobiles over the years have lead to more energy efficient and lower emission vehicles. Some examples are the electronic ignition, the fuel injection system, and electronic control units, as well as changes in materials used to build automobiles that have resulted in lighter weight, less air resistance, and reduced rolling resistance. Gas tanks have also been redesigned to prevent spilling and reduce emissions while at the gas station. Gas pumps themselves have also been redesigned to meet the same objective.
Mandatory tests have been implemented in industrialized countries to ensure that transportation emissions are kept to a minimum. These tests must be passed in order for the vehicle to be allowed on the road. Emissions tests exist for marine vehicles and aircraft, but they are less common and less strict.
More and more people are driving cars and the use of public transit remains steady making the issue of reducing transportation emissions an uphill battle. Alternative fuels such as ethanol, designed to replace fossil fuel use in vehicles, give off less harmful emissions and will no doubt help to improve the situation. Also, vehicles that use hybrid engines that run on a combination of fuel and electricity will also aid in reducing transportation emissions.
