Automobile Pollution Concerns Priorities And Challenges

Papers presented at the National Seminar on Automobile Pollution, held at Kota.

Considers implementing a national automobile emission standard. Feb. 13 and 14 hearings were held in Los Angeles, Calif.; Feb. 20 and 21 hearings were held in Detroit, Mich., pt.1; Considers S. 780, the Air Quality Act of 1967, to establish a program of Federal air quality standards and assistance to state programs focusing on controlling automobile exhaust emissions. Apr. 3 hearing was held in Denver, Colo., and Apr. 4 hearing in St. Louis, Mo. pt. 2; Considers status of ambient air quality criteria. Includes the following reports. a. National Center for Air Pollution Control, "Current Status Report; State and Local Pollution Control Programs" May, 1967 (p. 1160-1283). b. New York City Council, "Air Pollution in New York City" June, 1965 (p. 1495-1568). c. New York City Council, "Blueprint for Cleaner Air" Dec. 1965 (p. 1569-1624), pt.3; to provide efficient air pollution controls for industry and autos, pt.3; Continuation of hearings considering S. 780, to provide efficient air pollution controls for industry and autos, pt.4.

On India; contributed articles.

This symposium was jointly organized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and The Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. These proceedings will provide a stimulus for taking up the challenges of environmental policy development in the 21st century, and will contribute to continuing co-operation. Clean air is a basic condition for health. Air pollution aggravates respiratory problems, leading to increased sickness absenteeism, increased use of health care services and even premature mortality. Air pollution is under intensive discussion in the United States and Europe. In The Netherlands, a wide range of policy instruments have been formulated which have reduced air pollution. For example; since 1975, sulphur dioxide and lead emissions have been reduced. However, emission reduction figures for many other substances are more modest. Many air pollution problems persist because progress in countering these problems is nullified by growth in the economy and traffic. Another important target is the prevention of climate change. The international community is agreed that the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has led to a gradual increase in the earth's temperature. In terms of the environmental consequences and social implications, the greenhouse problem surpasses all other air quality problems. Across Europe, strategies are being developed to reduce acidification and photochemical air pollution. An air emission ceiling for each country in the European Union is being agreed. In the area of climate change, there is good co-operation between the United States, The Netherlands and other EU Members States in the ongoing global negotiations. This is the start of a new movement. In the last century economies and societies developed through increasing human productivity. In the next century they must develop through increasing the productivity of fuel and natural resources.

Explores the impact automobile emissions have on air pollution, focusing on the share of pollution that can accurately be attributed to the use of vehicles. Presents general information on atmospheric pollution and its regulation in Europe, then discusses its impact on health and the environment, the chemistry and mechanisms of automobile pollution, the influence of fuel properties, post-combustion treatments, and economic challenges to alleviating the problem. Translated and enlarged from Automobile et pollution published by Editions Technip in Paris in 1992. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR