The Hindu : New Delhi News : Diesel cars emit more toxics compared to petrol

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 16, 2007
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New Delhi

Diesel cars emit more toxics compared to petrol

Staff Reporter

New finding by Centre for Science and Environment

‘The air toxics from a diesel car are very harmful and seven times higher than petrol cars’
Diesel cars are nearly 30 per cent of the new car sales, expected to go up to 50 % by 2010

NEW DELHI: Investigations by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), based on actual emissions data available from the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India, have shown that even Euro I-I diesel cars spew several times more toxic emissions than their petrol version.

According to a recent report by CSE, Euro-III diesel cars emit 7.5 times more toxic particulate matter compared to petrol cars.

“This means one diesel car is equal to adding 7.5 petrol cars to the car fleet in terms of particulate matter and three petrol cars in terms of nitrogen oxide emissions. This clearly reflects the flawed emission standards that allow diesel cars to emit more nitrogen oxide and particulate matter compared to petrol cars. The air toxics from a diesel car are very harmful and carcinogenic and seven times higher than petrol cars,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, Head of CSE’s Right to Clean Air Campaign.

“Delhi’s pollution battle can turn very difficult if dieselisation of the car fleet is not checked right now. Diesel cars are nearly 30 per cent of the new car sales and are expected to go up to 50 per cent by 2010. Other Indian cities are also at serious risk. Already more than half of Indian cities have critical levels of particulates. It is a myth that the diesel car technology that is available currently in India is clean. Immediate policy intervention is needed,” she adds.

The CSE study also points out the diesel-related emissions are already very high in Delhi’s air. “It is a matter of serious concern that the monthly average levels of tiny particulates, smaller than 2.5-micron size, that go deep inside lungs have hit a dizzying height of 245 microgram per cubic metre in Delhi. The daily peaks can be at more than 600 microgram per cubic metre,” warns the report.

The World Health Organisation has said there is no safe level for particulate matter and the same has been associated with a significant increase in health risks including asthma, lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and heart damage.

Long-term exposure can cause lung cancer.

“What’s worse, in Delhi, levels of nitrogen dioxides are also spiralling and daily levels have hit 300 microgram per cubic metre. Both these pollutants dominate diesel exhaust emissions,” adds Ms. Roychoudhury.

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