Open AccessGasoline contributes more than diesel to secondary organic aerosol
Author(s) -
Balcerak Ernie
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2012eo180012
Subject(s) - gasoline , diesel fuel , aerosol , environmental science , diesel exhaust , air quality index , environmental engineering , waste management , meteorology , engineering , geography
Gasoline‐powered vehicles contribute more to secondary organic aerosol formation than diesel‐fueled vehicles do, a new study shows. Organic compounds in gasoline fuel and diesel exhaust can lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosols, which negatively affect air quality, visibility, and health and have impacts on climate; however, few studies have investigated the relative contribution of gasoline and diesel to secondary aerosols. Traffic studies have found that the ratio of gasoline‐to diesel‐powered vehicles changes on weekends. For instance, in the Los Angeles, Calif., area, diesel emissions are about 54% lower on weekends than on weekdays, though gasoline emissions are about the same.