Plans to clean up air quality in California by aggressively targeting diesel engines will be approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA said is planning to give the go-ahead to proposals to reduce the level of fine particles, also known as PM 2.5, by targeting diesel engine vehicles already in use.

Fine particles are a major health concern that, according to 2010 California Air Resources Board study, result in 9,200 premature deaths in the state every year. Cutting exposure helps reduce asthma, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Diesel engine vehicles such as trucks, construction equipment and marine vessels are the largest source of PM 2.5 California. Trucks and buses account for 40 per cent of diesel emissions.

Jared Blumenfeld, EPA regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest, said: "Clean air is a critical human health issue in California. In large part, the solution will be found in moving quickly towards zero emission transportation systems."

To reduce fine particles, diesel engines can be retrofitted with platinum autocatalysts.

California is the only state that is actively focusing on the retrofitting of diesel engines with such platinum catalysts. The rules will affect almost a million vehicles and should prevent around 3,500 deaths a year.

Source:

U.S. EPA Proposes to Approve California's Air Quality Plans for South Coast, San Joaquin Valley (29/06/11)

© Adfero Ltd