Petroleum Diesel Engine Petroleum Diesel Engine Emissions: Air Quality and Emissions: Air Quality and

Public Health Impacts and the Public Health Impacts and the Biodiesel AlternativeBiodiesel Alternative

State Biodiesel Commission MeetingState Biodiesel Commission MeetingSeptember 11, 2008September 11, 2008

Melinda Treadwell, Ph.D.Melinda Treadwell, Ph.D.Keene State CollegeKeene State College

School of Professional and Graduate StudiesSchool of Professional and Graduate Studies

• What are the benefits and challenges for Diesel What are the benefits and challenges for Diesel Engines??Engines??

• What led to 2007/2014 Standards for Diesel What led to 2007/2014 Standards for Diesel Engines and Fuels?Engines and Fuels?

• What does Keene State College have to do with What does Keene State College have to do with any of this?any of this?

• What does Biodiesel have to do with any of What does Biodiesel have to do with any of this?this?

• What are some future research needs?What are some future research needs?

Today’s Presentation---Answers to:Today’s Presentation---Answers to:

Paracelsus (1493 - 1541)Paracelsus (1493 - 1541)

““All substances are poisons, there is none which is All substances are poisons, there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.”and a remedy.”

THE DOSE MAKES THE POISONTHE DOSE MAKES THE POISON

The Science of ToxicologyThe Science of Toxicology

UncertaintyData gaps

Epidemiology

Cellular &Molecular

Assessment

Animal Models

Endpoint(s) Of

ConcernDose

Exposure

Potency

Concentration

Pollutant(s)Of

Concern

Emissions

Policy /Regulation

Health and EnvironmentalImpacts and Decision Making

Petroleum Diesel---benefits Many desirable qualities:

Efficient fuel,

Effective fuel/technology,

Available fuel,

Current system established….economic impact with change*

*In 2004 NH residents spent $710 million on diesel fuel and heating oil

Increasing concerns regarding health and environmental impacts of diesel equipment

• Asthma• Chronic bronchitis• Chronic obstructive airway disease• Cardio-pulmonary morbidity and mortality• Cancer… “likely to cause cancer in humans”• Ozone concentration increases

Increasing awareness of the emissions contribution to pollutants of concern from diesel engines

Over 25 years of basic and applied research to draw these conclusions

Diesel Fuel (Challenges)Diesel Fuel (Challenges)

• Increasing concerns regarding health and environmental impacts of diesel equipment

• Increasing awareness of the emissions contribution to pollutants of concern from diesel engines

Critical Events/Study• 1999: California study---MATES I and II—and regulation

• 2000: USEPA finalizes Diesel Health Assessment Document

• 2000 – current day: Non-road equipment exposure analyses at Keene State College, raising concern regarding potential impacts (occupational and environmental exposure standards)

• 2000-2006: USEPA tightens engine and fuel standards for on-highway and non-road diesel engines and tightens the national ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter

Diesel Fuel (Challenges)Diesel Fuel (Challenges)

The Major Pollutants of Concern:The Major Pollutants of Concern:

• Fine particles (nanoparticles??)4 - 53%

• Irritant gases40 – 90%

• Cancer causing mixture? >70% of cancer risk in the LA Basin

Major Environmental Concerns:• NOx• Volatile organic compounds

Human Hair (45 - 130 µm diameter)PM2.5

(2.5 µm)

Hair cross section (~70 m)

PM4

(4µm)

M. Lipsett, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

What are Fine Particles?A complex mixture of extremely small solid particles and drops of liquid in the air

Fine particles, or haze, restrict our ability to see long distances

HartfordOct. 8, 20024 p.m. EDT

Unadjusted Hourly conc. of fine particles – 4 g/m3

HartfordOct. 2, 20024 p.m. EDT

Unadjusted Hourly conc. of fine particles – 24 g/m3

Keene State College Safety Studies DepartmentKeene State College Safety Studies Department Research Activities evaluating Research Activities evaluating diesel and biodiesel emissionsdiesel and biodiesel emissions

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Today

NIH-COBRE Award

US EPASTAR Grant

Bio Diesel

NIH-COBRE Award #2

Our ApproachOur Approach Use established occupational and environmental monitoring /analysis Use established occupational and environmental monitoring /analysis

methodsmethods

Monitor fine particulate matter exposure and ~45 gaseous pollutantsMonitor fine particulate matter exposure and ~45 gaseous pollutants

Monitor exposures at the perimeters of a worksite (environmental)Monitor exposures at the perimeters of a worksite (environmental)

Monitor in-cabin exposures (occupational)Monitor in-cabin exposures (occupational)

Track local meteorological conditionsTrack local meteorological conditions

Compare our monitoring results with allowable occupational and Compare our monitoring results with allowable occupational and environmental health-protective standardsenvironmental health-protective standards

Environmental Air Monitoring Environmental Air Monitoring Equipment Equipment

KSC Exposure Assessment for KSC Exposure Assessment for Petroleum Diesel in Non-Road SectorPetroleum Diesel in Non-Road Sector

To quantify occupational and environmental exposures to diesel To quantify occupational and environmental exposures to diesel engine emissionsengine emissions

If appropriate…If appropriate…To evaluate exposure reduction options for diesel powered To evaluate exposure reduction options for diesel powered

equipment to provide occupational and environmental health equipment to provide occupational and environmental health improvementimprovement

Nonroad Exposure Project Nonroad Exposure Project ConclusionsConclusions

Nonroad diesel equipment activity Nonroad diesel equipment activity substantially increases* fine particulate substantially increases* fine particulate matter exposures. matter exposures.

*Average concentrations were 1-16X greater than normally *Average concentrations were 1-16X greater than normally recorded in each area. recorded in each area.

ConclusionsConclusions

Non-road heavy-duty Non-road heavy-duty diesel equipment activity diesel equipment activity increased* diesel particulate matter increased* diesel particulate matter exposures. exposures.

*Other projects have concluded that, in an urban *Other projects have concluded that, in an urban environment, diesel particulate “background” ranges environment, diesel particulate “background” ranges between 0.4 – 1.5 between 0.4 – 1.5 g/mg/m33. These data demonstrate that . These data demonstrate that nonroad equipment activities will increase these nonroad equipment activities will increase these concentrations by 1 - 6 X. concentrations by 1 - 6 X.

Measured Average Fine Particulate Matter ConcentrationLocation 8-hour Average Concentration

(g/m3)

New York City

09/14-17, 200273

(highest measured)

VT Ski Area, Shift #1 400

VT Ski Area, Shift #2 220

VT Ski Area, Shift #3 110

EPA requires a 24-hour fine particulate matter exposure of less than 35 g/m3

Our Smuggler’s Notch 24-hour average was 243 g/m3

Why not await the pending federal Why not await the pending federal requirements for petroleum diesel?requirements for petroleum diesel?

Fuel and new engine standards for highway Fuel and new engine standards for highway and non-road diesel engines on the way…and non-road diesel engines on the way…

Why not await the pending federal Why not await the pending federal requirements?requirements?

Phase in for nonroad emission controls 2008 and 2014.Phase in for nonroad emission controls 2008 and 2014.

New fuels and engine technologies likely not in the field for New fuels and engine technologies likely not in the field for years - decades to come.years - decades to come.

Current challenges with ultra low sulfur diesel for on-road Current challenges with ultra low sulfur diesel for on-road engines and engine technology delays (2007 standards) will engines and engine technology delays (2007 standards) will be a problem…be a problem…

After market emissions controls, cleaner fuels, or other After market emissions controls, cleaner fuels, or other emission reduction efforts focused on the current fleet or emission reduction efforts focused on the current fleet or stationary engines stationary engines will mean exposure reductions and will mean exposure reductions and environmental improvement immediatelyenvironmental improvement immediately..

Recognizing the significance of these Recognizing the significance of these emissions and the potential delay for emissions and the potential delay for federal emissions control to take federal emissions control to take effect….what emission reduction options effect….what emission reduction options exist ?exist ?

Alternative fuels---biodiesel??Alternative fuels---biodiesel??

BusinessDevelopment

Existing Infrastructure

Impacts

Feasibility

Economics

Environment

Public Health

ClimateChange

Sustainability

Non-petroleum

Fuel

PetroleumDiesel

Challenges

BiodieselUse

Central Question for our research Central Question for our research

Does B20 use result in lower emissions of:Does B20 use result in lower emissions of:

PMPM2.52.5

Elemental/Organic CarbonElemental/Organic Carbon Oxides of NitrogenOxides of Nitrogen

City of Keene Recycling CenterCity of Keene Recycling Center

Keene Recycling Center

PM 2.5 : Diesel vs. Biodiesel

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

P1 P2 P3 MS1 TotalSite

Perimeters/Total Site

Con

cent

ratio

n(m

icro

gram

s/cu

bic

met

er)

Diesel

Biodiesel

Reduction in PM2.5 (~62%) was statistically significant (p=0.00001)

PM 2.5 - 24 HR Time Weighted Average Using Ambient Air DataDiesel vs. Biodiesel

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

P1 P2 P3 MS1

Perimeter

Aver

age

Conc

entra

tion

(ug/

m3 ) Diesel

Biodiesel

EPA 24Hr TWA

Elemental Carbon: Diesel vs. Biodiesel

0

2

4

6

8

P1 P2 P3 MS1 Total Site

Perimeters/Total Site

Con

cen

trat

ion

s(m

icro

gram

s/cu

bic

met

er)

Diesel

Biodiesel

Average Elemental Carbon concentration reduction (~22%) statistically significant p=0.014

Organic Carbon: Diesel vs. Biodiesel

0.05.0

10.015.020.025.030.035.0

P1 P2 P3 MS1 TotalSite

Perimeters/Total Site

Con

cen

trat

ion

(mic

rogr

ams/

cub

ic m

eter

)

Diesel

Biodiesel

~370% increase ---highly significant, p= 2E-11

Future Questions??Future Questions?? If these reductions could be reproduced for more If these reductions could be reproduced for more

mobile engines and stationary engines the emission mobile engines and stationary engines the emission reductions could be very substantialreductions could be very substantial 51-78% exposure reduction in PM51-78% exposure reduction in PM2.52.5

18-24% exposure reduction in elemental carbon18-24% exposure reduction in elemental carbon

Will the NOx results be consistently observed?Will the NOx results be consistently observed? Is there a potency reduction with biodiesel? Is there a potency reduction with biodiesel? The question of organic carbon increase must be The question of organic carbon increase must be

further investigatedfurther investigated370% increase--attributable to high potency compounds?370% increase--attributable to high potency compounds?

Monadnock Biodiesel CollaborativeMonadnock Biodiesel Collaborative

Production of Biodiesel

(250,000 gallons/year)

Fuel Quality Testing for Biodiesel

Exposure and Emissions Research and Education

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

City of Keene

Mike BlastosMikaela Engert

Donna Hanscom Med KopczynskiGary LaFreniere

Dale PregentSteve Russell

Steve ThorntonDuncan Watson

Marcia White

J&S Environmental Services

 John DiVincenzo

Keene State College

Andrew DenleyJoseph DiFraia

Jim DraperHelen Giles-Gee

Mike GrottonMary Jensen

Jay KahnChris LangilleAndrew McKeenMel Netzhammer

Gary OdenDonna PaleyIrissa Plouff

Joshua SwaseyNora Traviss

Bud Windsor

Batchelder Biodiesel Refineries

Lee BatchelderWilliam Langille

EPA P3 Grant833-52301

Sources of FundingHeineman Foundation

Janes TrustNational Institute of Health

P20RR018787EPA Star Fellowship

SP916576