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Ethanol Blend Fuels Affects on Health and the Environment

Ethanol Blend Fuels Affects on Health and the Environment. Howard Haines Montana Department of Environmental Quality Eugene, Oregon, May 8, 2001. Air Quality Concerns . Pollutants from vehicles and stationary sources collect to levels that are unhealthy for the general public

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Ethanol Blend Fuels Affects on Health and the Environment

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  1. Ethanol Blend Fuels Affects on Health and the Environment Howard Haines Montana Department of Environmental Quality Eugene, Oregon, May 8, 2001

  2. Air Quality Concerns • Pollutants from vehicles and stationary sources collect to levels that are unhealthy for the general public • Laws and rules were passed to protect the health of the general public that required oxygenated fuels

  3. Areas with Air Quality Concerns in Oregon • Portland • Medford • Grants Pass (delisted) • Klamath Falls (delisted)

  4. MTBE and Water Quality Concerns • Has high affinity for water • Makes water taste bad (20-40 PPM) • Linked to cancer in rats • Shown to cause illness in humans (allergic reactions, others) in levels as low as 2 PPB

  5. Oregon and MTBE • MTBE found in almost all Oregon gasoline either to increase octane or contaminated in transport • Detectable levels in over 50% of all petroleum clean up sites, but in all cases another pollutant is the cause for cleanup • Level must fall below 20 PPB for complete cleanup

  6. Oregon and MTBE • Tested 45 public water systems (100 sources) and only one with a detectable level (7 PPM) • Two other water sources near cleanup sites found with MTBE • Testing for MTBE being expanded for the other 300 Oregon systems • In Oregon 800-844-8467 or 800 452 4011

  7. Concerns Experienced with MTBE in Missoula, West Yellowstone • People feeling ill, headaches, irritated eyes • Visibility and odor • Measured in snowpack, snow melt

  8. Missoula’s solution was to use ethanol • Using 8 % ethanol blend (2.7 % oxygen) Missoula reduced carbon monoxide by 24.3% on average compared to 1990 data.

  9. Air Quality and E-10 • Reduces emissions includeing fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and air toxics especially in SUVs, RVs, light duty vehicles, and 2-stroke engines

  10. Air Quality Concerns • Snowmobile emissions in congested traffic areas caused air quality concerns • President’s Day Weekend 1999 yielded 8.9 PPM CO 8-hr average at West Entrance YNP (over 900 snowmobiles) • In 2000, 3.5 PPM CO was highest 8-hour average for similar time and number of vehicles (ethanol blend, express lanes)

  11. Air Quality and E-10 • Approved for summer use in Chicago and Milwaukee to reduce CO and haze with little or no impact to ozone

  12. E-10 helps mental health • Increases power and octane; • Is warranted by manufacturers; and • Is similar in cost to conventional fuel.

  13. E-10 used voluntarily • No carburetor freezing • Significantly reduced maintenance and cold weather additives • Detergent properties reduce buildup that promotes cleaner combustion

  14. Ethanol Blend Fuels in the Yellowstone Region • Every million gallons of 10 percent ethanol blend burned reduces potential emissions of carbon monoxide by 61 tons

  15. SummaryEthanol blend fuel: • Reduces air emissions without adversely impacting water quality • Summer use reduces emissions, but weather and location may impact effectiveness • Helps reduce regional haze

  16. Acknowledgements • US DOE Regional Bioenergy Program • EPA • Montana Department of Environmental Quality

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