Progress and Potential for Achieving Cleaner Air on a Global Basis - Seite 2

The societal benefits of these efforts are now clear: According to the American Lung Association's analysis, ".the best progress [in 2018] came in the continued reduction of year-round particle pollution, thanks to cleaner power plants and increased use of cleaner vehicles and engines."

"Clean diesel technology plays an increasing role in helping cities, states and countries achieve cleaner air quality worldwide," said Schaeffer. "The latest generation diesel engines - ones that use selective catalytic reduction systems and diesel particulate filters - offer near-zero particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. With such technology, NOx emissions can be reduced by up to 90 percent while simultaneously reducing hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions by 50-90 percent, and PM emissions by 30-50 percent. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel immediately cuts soot emissions from diesel vehicles and equipment by 10 percent."

The State of Global Air 2018, compiled by The Health Effects Institute, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, and the University of British Columbia, dramatically expands our understanding of all the sources that contribute to fine-particle air pollution; this was identified as the greatest environmental risk factor worldwide. Ninety-five percent of the world's population lives in areas exceeding the World Health Organization's (WHO) guideline for healthy air, and nearly 60 percent live in areas that do not meet even the WHO's least-stringent air quality target.

"Global considerations of air quality improvement must go beyond the road transport sector because diesel engines not only power the majority of commercial vehicles, but also nearly all marine and rail, industrial, agricultural and construction machines and equipment," said Schaeffer. "Similar clean diesel technologies that reduce fine particle emissions from commercial vehicles are now available in these large engine applications."

About The Diesel Technology Forum
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information, visit http://www.dieselforum.org.