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Health Benefits with Biodiesel
Pollution from transportation is one of the most significant factors in negatively affecting our health, especially in urban areas. Typically trucks, school buses and other vehicles that log millions of miles in and around our communities use diesel fuel. Other than adding filters, or reducing idling time, Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel that can blend with diesel fuel and offer a reduction of these harmful emissions we breathe.
While most of us may not be experts in science or have even heard of the terms we are introducing below, these emissions show up in our bodies as headaches, asthma, cancer, overall immune deficiencies, and a host of many other diseases our bodies endure.
Biodiesel has had a complete evaluation of potential health effects approved by EPA under the Clean Air Act and is the only alternative fuel to pass EPA guidelines. The following is a list of harmful emissions regulatory agencies commonly refers to as the "chemical cocktail". Additionally we list how B20 (Biodiesel 20% diesel 80%) and B100 (100% Neat Biodiesel) reduce these emissions.
| Regulated Emissions | B20 | B100 |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrocarbons | -20% | -67% |
| Contributes to forming smog & ozone | ||
| Particulate Matter | -12% | -47% |
| Contributes to asthma, lung disease & cancers | ||
| Nox* | - 5.8% to +6.2% | no data |
| Contributes to forming acid rain, lung diseases, & global warming | ||
| Carbon Monoxide | -12% | - 48% |
| Gas contributing to fatigue, headaches, chest pain, & flu-like symptons | ||
| Non-Regulated Emissions | ||
| Sulfates | -20% ** | -100% |
| When blended with diesel, sulfur exists and contributes to acid rain | ||
| PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) ** | -13% | -80% |
| Contribute to cancer, lung disease, and reproductive effects | ||
| nPAH (nitrated PAH's) ** | -50%**** | - 90% |
| Contribute to cancer | ||
| Ozone Potential of speciated HC | -10% | -50% |
| Contributes to Smog | ||
*Nitrogen Oxides - At the 2007 National Biodiesel Board conference in San Antonio, a representative from NREL reported they found a range of -5.8% to +6.2% in NOx emissions when running the test on 8 heavy duty vehicles. This was different from the EPA test results, published in 2002, which found NOx to increase 2% for B20 and 10% for B100. This emissions finding has since been used as the industry standard. Unfortunately the EPA test was done on a 1991 DDC series 60 engine that is not as comprehensive as the NREL study or current studies underway testing all forms of engines and Biodiesel made from different feedstock (which significantly shift NOx emissions) While NOx is a significant harmful emission that must be regulated, this recent finding of the wide range of decrease to increase calls for Biodiesel industry, engine manufacturers and the science community to work together to determine the true emissions and how to eliminate them.
"This is a major finding because the perceived small increase was leading some state regulatory agencies to consider banning B20 biodiesel," said Robert McCormick, NREL principal engineer for nonpetroleum based fuels research. "Our study helps remove a significant barrier to the expansion of biodiesel markets."
For more information, read NREL's report of this study, Effects of Biodiesel Blends on Vehicle Emissions (PDF 1.9 MB). www.nrel.gov
- Emissions Comparison to Diesel
- Health Benefits with Biodiesel
- Biodiesel & Global Warming
For the study, NREL tested entire vehicles on a heavy-duty chassis dynamometer at its Renewable Fuels and Lubricants Research Laboratory (ReFUEL). The vehicles included three transit buses, two school buses, two Class 8 trucks, and one motor coach. Using the chassis dynamometer, NREL researchers simulated both urban and highway driving for each of these vehicles. In addition, NREL reviewed previously published results for engine and chassis testing of B20.
"Our study shows that the NOx impact of B20 varies with engine design, such that some engines show a small increase while others show a small decrease. The EPA's 2002 review was based on a data set made up primarily of data from one engine model that produces a small NOx increase. EPA uses these data to draw a general conclusion for on-highway engines that B20 causes a 2% increase in NOx," McCormick said. "The chassis dynamometer testing along with careful review of previously published data suggest that their conclusion is not correct, and that on average B20 has no effect on NOx."