Urban formaldehyde and methanol concentrations for alternative methanol-vehicle scenarios. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Jun 14 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5042064

Ireson, R G; Carr, E L; Fieber, J L; Heiken, J G; Myers, T C

The use of several alternative fuels for motor vehicles has been proposed for a variety of purposes. Methanol (MeOH) and methanol blends with gasoline are two such fuels, and are potentially attractive because methanol is a liquid fuel that can be produced from natural gas. Motor vehicle emissions are affected in various ways by the use of methanol fuels. Higher molecular weight hydrocarbons are reduced and carbon monoxide is reduced under some circumstances; however, increases can occur in methanol and in formaldehyde (HCHO). At sufficiently high concentrations, methanol is toxic. At relatively low concentrations, formaldehyde is an eye irritant. There is evidence that formaldehyde is a carcinogen, and long-term exposure to increased levels of formaldehyde may pose health risks. Also, formaldehyde is photochemically reactive, and increased formaldehyde concentrations from methanol fuel use may lead to increased photochemical smog concentrations. Emissions of methanol and formaldehyde from methanol-fueled vehicles arise from the same causes as other reactive hydrocarbon emissions: evaporative losses and incomplete combustion. The results presented here were developed to explore the potential for high short-term (1-hour) concentrations of methanol and formaldehyde in urban settings.

• Research Organization: Tennessee Univ. Hospital, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Radiology
• OSTI ID: 5042064
• Report Number(s): PB-91-233833/XAB; SYSAPP--91/053
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FORMALDEHYDE
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METHANOL
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
URBAN AREAS
VEHICLES