Where does vehicular air pollution come from?

Motor vehicles play a major role in air pollution. They are the single largest contributor of the precursors of ground-level ozone, which is a major urban pollutant. Motor vehicles also contribute significantly to particulate matter (PM) pollution. Both kinds of pollution stem from burning fossil fuels and vehicle use, and both contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory problems.

Here's the Science

Motor vehicles generate three major pollutants: hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) to form ground-level ozone. Elevated ozone levels mainly occur during the months of May through September. Nitrogen oxides also help form acid rain. Carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, deadly gas, can impair mental and visual functions and have other negative effects at high levels of exposure.

To read the rest of this article from Clean Air NY, click here.

Study links smog to respiratory diseases

A New York University study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who live in areas with high smog rates (i.e. metropolitan areas) are three times more likely to die from premature respiratory diseases than those who live in areas with low smog counts.

Smog forms when ozone, which comes primarily from the tailpipes of vehicles and smokestacks of factories, mixes with sunlight.

The study is the first nationwide examination of the long-term impact ozone has on human health, according to officials at NYU's Lagone Medical Center.

The researchers also concluded that even at levels below EPA requirements for airborne ozone, long-term exposure still leads to an increased rate of negative health effects. Environmental groups argue that the current standards aren't strict enough, while industry representatives say the standards are already too strict in their current form.

For more info, check out this article in the New York Times.

EPA proposes greenhouse gas reporting requirement

Staring in 2011, facilities around the country may be required to report their greenhouse gas emissions for the first time.

The EPA made the announcement about the proposal on Tuesday, saying that facilities with more than 25,000 metric tons of emissions would be required to report under the program. This would mean that facilities such as car manufacturing plants, power generators, industrial chemical factories, and other similar industries would fall under the regulation.

Such facilities account for 80 to 85 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to EPA estimates.

Awareness is certainly the first step in reversing the effects we are having on the environment with harmful emissions. Hopefully this program will increase awareness and encourage these facilities to reduce their emissions, making our environment safer for future generations.

Public transit use on the rise

Despite decreasing gas prices and increasing unemployment rates in the second half of last year, a record number of trips (10.7 billion) were taken on public transportation.

The number of trips nationwide in 2008 was four percent higher than the number of trips in 2007, according to the American Public Transportation Association. At the same, vehicle miles traveled in the U.S. decreased by over three percent from 2007 to 2008.

Boston recorded the fifth highest increase in subway use in the country.

“Even as gas prices fell for the second half of the year and hundreds of thousands of people lost jobs, more and more people chose to ride public transportation throughout the country,” said APTA President William Millar. “Given our current economic condition, people are looking for ways to save money and taking public transportation offers a substantial savings of more than $8,000 a year. That’s quite a savings.”

TD Banknorth Garden goes green, literally

The Garden is going green, quite literally, with a new lighting system that was installed last week.

The lights use LED technology that saves energy, reduces maintenance costs, and has a better lighting quality, according to Garden officials.

The lights can be set to many colors, including green during Celtics games, gold during Bruins games, and various colors during other events. For instance, the lights will have a tie-dye color scheme during an upcoming Fleetwood Mac concert.

Stimulus prompts expansion in green technology companies

Green technology companies in Massachusetts are hiring, and the main reason is the recent economic stimulus bill. The bill included about $100 billion to fund technologies that reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and generate more electricity from renewable sources.

All in all, the stimulus package is expected to create or save as many as 79,000 jobs in Massachusetts.

The Globe has a slide show describing several of the green technology companies that are expanding in the area. Click here to check it out.

MIT students build solar car

MIT students have unveiled their latest solar car for the 10th World Solar Challenge, a 2,000-mile race across Australia. The seven-day race features cars that run only on solar power.

The car weighs about 500 pounds and can reach speeds up to 90 mph. The top of the car is fitted with solar panels that can generate up to 1,200 watts of power.

For more on the car, check out this story on EcoGeek.

Google Earth tool tracks CO2 emissions

The Vulcan Project, led by a team of Purdue University researchers, has created a Google Earth tool that shows you CO2 emissions coming from each county in the U.S.

The tool breaks down emissions into industrial, residential, commercial, and other categories for each county.

The team plans to be able to release emissions data by street or even by building as more data is collected.

This tool is really cool and a great way to see where most of our CO2 emissions are coming from. Check it out at the link above.

Bids go out for citywide bike share program

City leaders began accepting bids for Boston's proposed citywide bike share program today, which is schedule to begin in the spring of next year.

The program will place 150 or so kiosks around the city with bikes locked to them, and program participants will be able to swipe a credit card and pick up a bike. The kiosks will be located around busy areas such MBTA stations, colleges, and hospitals.

The fee for the bikes will range between $2 and $5 an hour, city officials said.

Biking advocates are excited about the program because it gives commuters flexibility in using bikes to get around the city.

Transportation bill would raise Logan parking fees

About a month after parking fees at Logan were raised $1, Governor Patrick's transit overhaul bill would raise the fees by another $2 if it gets passed in its current form.

The additional fee is dubbed the "carbon fee" in the bill and would raise parking fees to $6 for up to an hour, $18 for up to 3 hours, and $26 for a full day.

State Transportation Secretary James Aloisi Jr. told The Herald that the fee would fund airport-releated transportation projects and encourage people to take public transit to the airport.

The second part of that comment is ironic, seeing that national, state, and local governments just spent $15 billion on the Big Dig so it would be easier to drive to the airport.