Cleaning up diesel - even more: A look at the steps taken to clear up toxic emissions in diesel exhausts

摘要

A Peugeot executive once told me that reducing particulate emissions (PM) in diesel exhaust was a moral issue. This was at a time when there was no dear scientific evidence that PM was injurious to human health, although the evidence did appear to be growing. It suggested that PM was particularly harmful to those with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions. So, despite the importance of diesel powered trucks and ambulances etc., it was decided that doing nothing wasn't an option. Since this decision was taken, much has indeed been done to clean up exhaust: namely through the European emissions reduction programme which began in the early 1990s.