Brian Barton
Diesel cars have been the subject of negative publicity due to the amount of toxic emissions they produce. These emissions include nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are linked to an increased risk of respiratory problems, and fine particulate matter (PM), which has been associated with poor heart health and cancer. While diesel engines emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre than petrol engines, they produce more nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution and adverse health effects. With tightening emission standards, diesel engines are becoming more efficient and less polluting. However, the focus on reducing specific pollutants, such as CO2, may divert attention from other harmful emissions. This has led to governments considering measures to discourage the use of diesel cars or even ban them from urban areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide emissions per gallon of fuel | 10,180 grams CO2/gallon |
| Carbon dioxide emissions per mile | 400 grams of CO2/mile |
| Carbon dioxide emissions per year | 4.6 metric tons of CO2 |
| Nitrogen oxides emissions | 20 times more than petrol cars |
| Particulate matter emissions | More than 90% of DPM is less than 1 µm in diameter |
| Particulate matter composition | Carbon particles, organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, 1,3-butadiene |
| Health effects | Respiratory and cardiovascular issues, cancer, cognitive function decrease, asthma, lung disease |
| Environmental effects | Ground-level ozone, acid rain, haze, climate change, property damage, reduced visibility |
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What You'll Learn
- Diesel cars produce more than four times the pollution of petrol cars
- Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of air pollutants
- Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is linked to cancer and cardiovascular issues
- Diesel engines produce 20 times more nitrogen oxides than petrol cars
- Governments are planning to discourage diesel car use
Diesel cars produce more than four times the pollution of petrol cars
Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of air pollutants, including both gaseous and solid material. The solid material in diesel exhaust is known as diesel particulate matter (DPM). DPM is composed of carbon particles (soot, or black carbon) and numerous organic compounds, including over 40 known carcinogens. Diesel exhaust also contains gaseous pollutants, including volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). NOx emissions from diesel engines are particularly important because they can react in the atmosphere to form PM2.5 and ozone. PM2.5 is the size of ambient particulate matter most associated with adverse health effects, including cardiovascular and respiratory issues, and premature death.
In a petrol car, NOx can be cleaned up by a three-way catalytic converter so that it emits on average around 30% less NOx than a diesel car, without after-treatment. Diesel cars emit around 20 times more nitrogen oxides than petrol cars. Diesel cars have also been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, with a 2011 study in The Lancet concluding that traffic exposure is the single most serious preventable trigger of heart attacks in the general public, causing 7.4% of all attacks.
Particulate filters in car exhausts can reduce PM emissions by more than 90%, but they require good operating conditions and regular maintenance. Even with these filters, diesel engines still produce more nitrogen dioxide, making diesel one of the main sources of this toxic gas. While diesel engines are more efficient and use less fuel than petrol engines, the higher temperatures and pressures of the diesel combustion process result in the significant production of NOx.
In recent years, governments have extended emissions control regulations to include not only on-road vehicles but also farm vehicles, marine vessels, and stationary generator applications. Efforts to reduce DPM exposure include the use of cleaner-burning diesel fuel, retrofitting engines with particle-trapping filters, and the introduction of new, advanced technologies that reduce particle emissions.
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Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of air pollutants
Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of gaseous and solid air pollutants, known as diesel particulate matter (DPM). DPM is composed of carbon particles (soot or black carbon) and numerous organic compounds, including over 40 known carcinogens. Examples of these chemicals include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and 1,3-butadiene.
DPM is a subset of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), which is the size of ambient particulate matter most associated with adverse health effects. These health effects include cardiovascular and respiratory issues, decreased cognitive function in older men, and premature death. DPM levels are particularly elevated in urban areas, where large numbers of people are exposed to higher concentrations, resulting in greater health consequences.
Diesel exhaust also contains gaseous pollutants, including volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides (NOx). NOx emissions from diesel engines are of particular concern as they can undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere, leading to the formation of PM2.5 and ozone. While three-way catalytic converters in petrol cars can reduce NOx emissions by around 30%, diesel cars still emit significantly more NOx, with modern on-road diesel engines using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems to meet emissions laws.
In addition to the health impacts, diesel exhaust contributes to environmental issues such as haze, reduced visibility, and the production of ground-level ozone and acid rain, which damage crops, trees, soil, and water sources, entering the human food chain.
While diesel engines produce lower carbon monoxide emissions than gasoline engines, the lean-burning nature of diesel engines, combined with high combustion temperatures and pressures, results in significant NOx production. With tightening emission standards, diesel engines are being made more efficient, and alternative fuels and technologies are being explored to reduce DPM and other pollutant emissions.
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Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is linked to cancer and cardiovascular issues
Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of gaseous and solid air pollutants. The solid material in diesel exhaust is known as diesel particulate matter (DPM). DPM is composed of carbon particles ("soot", also called black carbon or BC) and numerous organic compounds, including over 40 known cancer-causing substances. Examples of these chemicals include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and 1,3-butadiene.
In 1998, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) identified DPM as a toxic air contaminant based on evidence of a relationship between diesel exhaust exposure and lung cancer. This determination was supported by additional studies published in 2012, which led the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization, to list diesel engine exhaust as "carcinogenic to humans". These studies found a link between exposure to DPM and lung cancer induction, as well as death from lung cancer. It is estimated that about 70% of total known cancer risk related to air toxics in California is attributable to DPM. Based on 2012 estimates, DPM is estimated to increase statewide cancer risk by 520 cancers per million residents exposed over a lifetime.
DPM exposure has also been linked to cardiovascular issues. Studies have shown that DPM exposure can induce systemic inflammation, resulting in metabolic dysfunction such as adipocyte hypertrophy, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial impairment in body tissues. Animal studies have revealed that DPM accelerates adipocyte hypertrophy and macrophage infiltration, enhancing the production of inflammatory mediators that impair systemic insulin signaling. Short-term exposure to DPM has been found to alter cardiac electrophysiology in rats, increasing the sensitivity of the heart towards ischemia-reperfusion injury and deteriorating cardiac mitochondrial function.
Regulatory programs and the adoption of new technologies have led to a decline in statewide cancer risk and DPM concentrations. Efforts to reduce DPM exposure include the use of cleaner-burning diesel fuel, retrofitting engines with particle-trapping filters, and the introduction of new advanced technologies that reduce particle emissions. It is anticipated that newly adopted diesel exhaust control measures will further reduce population exposure to DPM.
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Diesel engines produce 20 times more nitrogen oxides than petrol cars
Diesel cars have gained notoriety for the amount of toxic emissions they produce. Some governments are even planning to discourage their use or ban them from urban areas. Diesel engines produce a complex mixture of gaseous and solid pollutants. These include nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon particles (soot or black carbon), and volatile organic compounds.
Nitrogen oxides are a significant concern, as they are toxic and contribute to smog and poor air quality. Diesel engines produce higher levels of NOx than petrol engines due to their higher operating temperatures and pressures. Specifically, diesel engines produce NOx gases through the compression and heating of air in the engine, which favours the production of these gases.
The health risks associated with NOx emissions are significant. Long-term exposure to nitric oxide, a component of NOx, can increase the risk of respiratory problems. Additionally, nitrogen dioxide, another component of NOx, is a major pollutant and a contributor to smog, which has harmful effects on the respiratory system.
The impact of diesel exhaust on public health is severe. It has been linked to lung cancer, asthma, heart damage, and adverse effects on mental functioning. Fine particulate matter (PM) emitted from diesel engines has also been associated with poor heart health, increased hospital admissions, and even premature death.
While diesel engines produce higher levels of NOx, it's worth noting that modern, well-maintained diesel cars built to the latest standards can have similar overall emissions to new petrol vehicles. Additionally, technologies such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and particulate filters can help reduce NOx and PM emissions in diesel engines. However, these technologies require regular maintenance and proper operating conditions to function effectively.
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Governments are planning to discourage diesel car use
Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of gaseous and solid air pollutants. The solid material in diesel exhaust is known as diesel particulate matter (DPM) and is composed of carbon particles ("soot") and numerous organic compounds, including over 40 known carcinogens. Diesel exhaust also contains gaseous pollutants, including volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). NOx emissions from diesel engines are of particular concern as they can undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere, leading to the formation of PM2.5 and ozone. Long-term exposure to nitric oxide can significantly increase the risk of respiratory problems, and fine particulate matter (PM) emitted from diesel engines has been linked to poor heart health and an increased risk of hospitalisation and death from heart attacks.
Due to the harmful nature of these emissions, some governments are planning to discourage the use of diesel cars or even ban them from urban areas altogether. For example, the UK government has announced plans to halt the production of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, with similar targets in place in France, Germany, India, and other countries. The Scottish government has set an even more ambitious target of phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2032. These bans are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality.
To facilitate the transition away from diesel and petrol cars, governments are promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs). EVs have no tailpipe emissions, although emissions are created during the production and distribution of the electricity used to fuel the vehicles. Nevertheless, the production of electric cars is expected to become more cost-efficient as the technology develops, and the trend is already moving towards battery-electric vehicles. In addition to the environmental benefits, electric cars are also more cost-efficient for consumers as electricity prices are currently lower than petrol prices, and electric cars require less maintenance.
While some diesel car owners have reacted angrily to the proposed bans, arguing that they bought diesel vehicles because they were supposedly the environmentally friendly option, diesel engines produce more nitrogen dioxide and higher levels of NOx and particulate matter than petrol engines. However, it is important to note that older petrol cars are likely to be more polluting than newer diesel cars built to the latest emissions standards. To achieve these standards, diesel engine manufacturers have had to resort to technologies such as particulate filters, which require regular maintenance and can clog up in urban driving conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel cars produce more than four times the pollution of petrol cars. Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), which have been linked to an increased risk of respiratory problems, and particulate matter (PM), which has been associated with poor heart health.
Diesel cars emit nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas, at higher levels than petrol cars. They also emit particulate matter (PM), which is composed of carbon particles ("soot") and numerous organic compounds, including over 40 known carcinogens.
Exposure to diesel exhaust has been linked to serious health conditions, including asthma, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular issues. It is also associated with decreased cognitive function in older men.
