Deadly Consequences
One thing that you can be sure of is that whenever something is being touted as the next big thing that will save the world there will be unintended consequences. I have pointed out that ethanol production is diverting corn from use as food and consumer food prices are being driven up as a result. I've also pointed out that ethanol production is grossly inefficient, using almost as much energy as is produced. I've also pointed out that the rush to mandate the use of compact fluorescent bulbs may have the potential of mercury contamination in one's home. (Incidentally, some argued the risks were minimal. I've been hearing messages on the radio that asbestos surveys are now being required prior to starting renovations. How long until someone pushes for mercury surveys?) Now one study indicates that the much touted environmental benefits of using ethanol instead of petroleum may be fictitious. Ethanol may cause even worse environmental consequences than burning gasoline.
Jacobson focused especially on Los Angeles, which is home to about 6 percent of the nation's population and has historically had some of the most polluted airs in the United States and has been the testbed for nearly all U.S. air pollution regulations, making it ideal for a more detailed study, he explained.
He programmed the model to compare two future scenarios—one in which all the cars, trucks, motorcycles and other autos in the country are fueled by gasoline, and another in which vehicles are driven by E85, a popular blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
''We found that E85 vehicles reduce atmospheric levels of two carcinogens, benzene and butadiene, but increase two others, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde,'' Jacobson said. ''As a result, cancer rates for E85 are likely to be similar to those for gasoline. However, in some parts of the country, E85 significantly increased ozone, a prime ingredient of smog.''
200 more deaths per year
Specifically, E85 would cause ozone levels to increase in Los Angeles and the northeastern United States but to decline in the southeast United States. This is because of levels of airborne pollutants such as nitrogen oxides or volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde vary in the air of each locale. Emissions from E85 would therefore react chemically in different ways, creating ozone at some areas and destroying it in others.
Gasoline currently leads to roughly 10,000 premature deaths in the United States annually from ozone and particulate matter, Jacobson explained.
''In our study, E85 increased ozone-related mortalities in the United States by about 200 deaths per year compared to gasoline, with about 120 of those deaths occurring in Los Angeles,'' he said. ''These mortality rates represent an increase of about 4 percent in the U.S. and 9 percent in Los Angeles above the projected ozone-related death rates for gasoline-fueled vehicles in 2020.''
At the least, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. Because it is never as simple and easy as the single-issue people make it out to be. Never.
Environment, Science | Gaius Wednesday, 18 April , 2007
By Gayle Miller, Wednesday, 18 April , 2007 @ 8:05 am
I am making it a priority to PLANT MY OWN garden this year! There’s something about a tomato picked just moments before consumption! And I can grow my own SALSA VERDE and consume same until my colon rebels!