An investigation on the physical, chemical and ecotoxicological characteristics of particulate matter emitted from light-duty vehicles.
Particulate matter (PM) emitted from three light-duty vehicles was studied in terms of its physicochemical and ecotoxicological character using Microtox bioassay tests. A diesel vehicle equipped with an oxidation catalyst emitted PM which consisted of carbon species at over 97%. PM from a diesel vehicle with a particle filter (DPF) consisted of almost equal amounts of carbon species and ions, while a gasoline vehicle emitted PM consisting of approximately 90% carbon and approximately 10% ions. Both the DPF and the gasoline vehicles produced a distinct nucleation mode at 120 km/h. The PM emitted from the DPF and the gasoline vehicles was less ecotoxic than that of conventional diesel, but not in direct proportion to the emission levels of the different vehicles. These results indicate that PM emission reductions are not equally translated into ecotoxicity reductions, implying some deficiencies on the actual environmental impact of emission control technologies and regulations.
Vouitsis
Elias
E
Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
Ntziachristos
Leonidas
L
Pistikopoulos
Panayiotis
P
Samaras
Zissis
Z
Chrysikou
Loukia
L
Samara
Constantini
C
Papadimitriou
Chrysi
C
Samaras
Petros
P
Sakellaropoulos
George
G
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008956:Models, Chemical; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions