Diesel Emissions

Engines have had emissions control since the 1970s. Emissions controls were first introduced to engines because a growing number of people had difficulty breathing, and many illnesses attributed to the harmful emissions produced by the internal combustion engine. The environment also held noticeable damage in certain areas which resulted in the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) being created. The regulations are updated every few years by the EPA. Most big industries frown upon the EPA because they tend to complicate business practices. In actuality, the EPA is effective and without them the earth would lead a very dirty, hard to live in existance (EPA). They control things like air, water, waste pollution, through sets of laws they …show more content…
The diesel engines downfall is particulates, which is what a person can actually see in the form of black smoke. Particulates actually are not as harmful as the pollutants a person cannot see from gasoline engines. Particulates are heavier than air so they float back down and hit the ground which then causes a water and soil pollution problem. This also produces ground level ozone which causes acid rain. Vehicles produce harmful emissions like, hydrocarbons which cause heart disease, and cancer, and is an ingredient of creating smog. Engines also create carbon monoxide which is similar to hydrocarbons, they cause the same illnesses and hurt the ozone in the atmosphere that humans use to breathe. Engines produce NOx, or nitrogen dioxide, which is arguably the most harmful, NOx is produced when nitrogen in the air mixes with the high heat and extreme pressure in the engine. The Selective catalyst reduction systems can eliminate NOx, by mixing urea, which is a mixture of ammonia that converts NOx back into regular nitrogen …show more content…
It has been all over the news recently of the Volkswagen emission scandal. The cars in question were diesel cars, passing emissions test when hooked up to test machines, but not running anywhere close to passing when the electronic vehicle controls did not detect test equipment. The vehicles in question were polluting at forty times the legal limit in normal operating circumstances. This is a very sneaky, well thought out way to get to get around the laws, but now that the company has been caught, and they have to reimburse the owners of the affected vehicles. Volkswagen is also being fined by the EPA in order to be reprimanded for their attempted trickery (Lienert). Many wonder why a company would do such a thing, the answer is a simple one, and that is to keep the vehicle 's simple and fuel efficient. Emission equipment, while it is very effective and helpful, tends to complicate a vehicle 's operating structure. This means Volkwagen was attempting to make their vehicles more reliable by turning the complicated parts off, instead of making the parts themselves more reliable. Then the EPA has to deal with people burning waste oil and dirty fuels in outdated diesels (EPA) . Older diesel engines will burn almost anything a person puts in them which is actually illegal, but catching a wrongdoer in the act is a very challenging aspect because the engine is burning the