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Hsiao-Hsuan Mi,¹ Wen-Jhy Lee,¹ Perng-Jy Tsai,² and Chung-Ban Chen³

¹Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; ²Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan,Taiwan; ³Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Emission Group, Refining and Manufacturing Center, Chinese Petroleum Corporation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan

Abstract

Our objective in this study was to assess the effect of using two kinds of lead-free gasoline [including 92-lead-free gasoline (92-LFG) and 95-lead-free gasoline (95-LFG) , rated according to their octane levels] to replace the use of premium leaded gasoline (PLG) on the emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their corresponding benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaP_eq) amounts from the gasoline-powered engine. The results show that the three gasoline fuels originally contained similar total PAHs and total BaP_eq contents ; however, we found significant differences in the engine exhausts in both contents. The above results suggest that PAHs originally contained in the gasoline fuel did not affect the PAH emissions in the engine exhausts. The emission factors of both total PAHs and total BaP_eq obtained from the three gasoline fuels shared the same trend: 95-LFG > PLG > 92-LFG. The above result suggests that when PLG was replaced by 95-LFG, the emissions would increase in both total PAHs and total BaP_eq, but when replaced by 92-LFG would lead to the decreased emissions of both contents. By taking emission factors and their corresponding annual gasoline consumption rates into account, we found that both total PAH and total BaP_eq emissions increased from 1994 to 1999. However, the annual increasing rates in total BaP_eq emissions were slightly higher than the corresponding increasing rates in total PAHs. Key words: benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration, engine exhaust, lead-free gasoline, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, premium leaded gasoline. Environ Health Perspect 109:1285-1290 (2001) . [Online 30 November 2001]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2001/109p1285-1290mi/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to P.-J. Tsai, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 70428, Taiwan. Telephone: +886-6-2353535/5806. Fax: +886-6-2752484. E-mail: pjtsai@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Received 9 January 2001 ; accepted 25 April 2001.