Low Emissions in London
Newer diesel cars are producing higher amounts of nitrogen dioxide in comparison with older diesel cars, a study conducted by Defra on exhaust emissions in London has discovered.
The report on exhaust emissions in London discovered that a higher proportion of nitrogen dioxide toxins come from newer kinds of diesel cars when compared to older diesel technologies.
Petrol cars have been producing less and less nitrogen oxides for the last 20 years. Therefore, the number of nitrogen dioxides released from petrol cars is not hugely affecting the environment. The study on exhaust emissions in London compared data previously collected by Defra with statistics that they gathered in July 2012.
Euro 4 and 5 vehicles are now responsible for almost 30% of nitrogen oxide releases, whereas Euro 3 vehicles or older are only responsible for 10-15%.
Human wellbeing is said to be impacted by the release of nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere. Alongside nitric oxide, it makes up nitrogen oxide.
The amount of nitrogen oxide emissions in the atmosphere has decreased from their peak in 2000 when they were at their highest. However, the report stated that there has been little change in the amount of emissions in the atmosphere over the past 20 years.
Different levels of toxins are emitted from different diesel technology producers. There has been an increase in the amount of damaging nitrogen dioxide in nitrogen oxides in last 15 years.
The report has stated that substantial reduction in nitrogen dioxide releases could be possible if lower producing technologies were more widely used. Lower nitrogen oxide/nitrogen dioxide releases were reported from manufacturers who were implementing emission control methods.
Ealing borough council, City of London Corporation and the Department for the Environment financed this study which aimed to count the number of nitrogen oxide emissions from urban road cars in London.