A study has claimed that new diesel engines that emit nanoparticles could be more harmful than the dark exhaust fumes produced by other models.

According to the researchers from Italy and Germany, the nanoparticles penetrate lung tissue more deeply than older engine particles and kill more white blood cells.

The Fritz Haber Institute's department of inorganic chemistry believes the effects of Euro-IV low emissions could be due to the particles because new diesel engines almost completely burn the fuel.

Dangsheng Su of the Fritz Haber Institute said the problem could be reduced by better filters on the exhaust.

"From the point of view of physical chemistry, you cannot completely burn off the fuel in an unstationary engine. To do that you would need much more combustion time and a much higher concentration of oxygen," he said.

Justin Lingard of the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds believes the study had been based on engines normally used in utility vehicles.

"If the observations can be transferred to automobiles, this would be cause for concern," he told Chemistry World.

Source:

Newer diesel engines emit more harmful nanoparticles, 04/03/08
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2008/March/04030802.asp

Ÿ Adfero Ltd