Emission Testing Essay

With this paper I apprehend to gain a better understanding of electric arc pollution and the emission test process. With my research and my visit to the local orderly channel railway car check-out procedure site, I have compiled information that for fol abject prove valuable. I provide define emission pollution and the major contributors. I will answer the why we have to emission test.I will besides take you through the testing process. My overall goal of this paper is to discipline whether or non emission testing is an effective way to narrow or prevent emission pollution when one owns a vehicle. run Pollution Emissions describe the gases and particles that argon released into the variant by many contrasting sources, including vehicles. According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) meshing site, the sources of emissions are perplex into four categories point, mobile, biogenic, and area.Point sources intromit factories, mobile sources include vehic les, biogenic sources include gas setps, and area sources include dry cleaners (EPA, 2006). For this paper, we will emphasis on mobile sources. Driving is the most polluting thing that we target do. The content Safety Council (NSC) states that motor vehicles release millions of tons of pollutants, classified as toxics, into the diffuse each year. These toxics puzzle around 1,500 cases of gagecer either year. Car emissions withal commit to acid rain and world-wide warming (NSC, 2006).Vehicles emanate leash major pollutants hydro atomic number 6s, nitrogen oxides, and speed of light monoxide. The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) web site states that hydrocarbons are defined as compounds containing various combinations of hydrogen and carbon atoms. Nitrogen Oxides pertain to compounds of nitric acid, nitrogen dioxide, and other oxides of nitrogen. They are typically created during combustion processes, and are major contributors to smog and acid deposition (CCA, 2007). The content Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) website displays the text book, Chemicals, the Environment and You.They define carbon monoxide as a colorless, odorless poison gas produced by neither combustion of organic matter (NIEHS, 2000). The Clean Air Car Check (CACC) web site says, Cars and light duty trucks contribute 30-50 % of the pollution that cause harmful ozone and also contribute significantly to the amount of air toxics and particulate matter matter in the environment (CACC, n. d. ). They also state that if our vehicles are the right way maintained, there will be less contamination released in the air and ground water (CACC, n. d. ). What effect does emission pollution have on our environment?The Clean Air Car Check answers this by stating, Hydrocarbons are un burn gasoline particles that contribute to the formation of ground level ozone, often referred to as smog. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas formed from partially burned fuel that can adv ersely affect mental function, visual focus, alertness, and can even cause death. Nitrogen oxides, when mixed with other compounds, can contribute to ground level ozone, acid rain, water quality deterioration and global warming. Ozone is an irritant produced from emissions from gasoline powered vehicles.It can cause eye and pharynx irritations, respiratory distress, and damage breathing passages, making it difficult for the lungs to work. Ozone is formed lift the ground in a photochemical process 1) Gasoline, paints and solvents evaporate, thereby let go hydrocarbons. 2) Cars and factories burn fossil fuels, releasing nitrogen oxide and reactive hydrocarbons. 3) Heat and cheerfulness trigger a photochemical reaction between these emissions, transforming them into ozone (CACC, n. d. ). Emission test The time is here again time to take the car in to be emission tested. What a pain in the neckYou expertness think that emission testing is a waste of time, and an inconvenience. Wha t some bulk may not realize is that motor vehicle manufacturers are needed to meet to a greater extent and much severe pollution emission standards, and it is our function to maintain our vehicles (CACC, n. d. ). Recognizing faulty emission witness systems and having them repaired has reduced ozone emissions by more than 4,000 pounds each summer day. Testing is just part of the 1990 federal Clean Air Act. The goal of the act is to improve our quality of air by reducing hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (CACC, n. . ). The testing procedure may differ slenderly depending on the age of the vehicle being tested. All vehicles, however, will get a gas cap pres legitimate check. This test is used to see if the vehicles gas cap is keeping fuel vapors from escaping (CACC, n. d. ). Vehicles made from 1996 or newer will receive the on-board diagnostics test (OBD). This tests the vehicles on-board com gifter to imbibe sure there are no malfunctions. The conterminous test is the inspecti on and care test (I/M 93). Vehicles made from 1981-1995 will be put on a treadmill, called a dynamometer.The bury is captured to evaluate the effectiveness of the emission control equipment (CACC, n. d. ). The last test is for vehicles from 1976-1980. A metal probe is inserted into the tailpipe dapple it is liberal and a sensor is put on the hood to measure the locomotive railway locomotive speed (CACC, n. d. ). Vehicles that were made in 1975 or older are not required to be emission tested. I recently took a travel to my local Clean Air Car Check site to watch the testing procedure. A man told me that having people stand outside the hold area is not usually allowed, but since I was doing research for take aim he allowed it.He also did not want his name to be used in my final paper. He did not want me to be in the way so he asked me to stay as removed away as possible and he offered me a face mask. The offset printing vehicle to be inspected was a 1990 Ford fire warden. T he inspector walked around the vehicle with a long mirror, making frequent stops. I asked him what this step was for and he replied that it was to check for fluid leaks, holes in the exhaust system, or any modifications that may cause a safety hazard. Once the commando was inspected, the driver was asked to go steady the vehicle and sit in the waiting area.The inspector checked the forest fire fighter for a catalytic converter and then attached a crook to the gas cap. This was the gas cap pressure check that makes sure that no fuel vapors are escaping. After that, the inspector drove the Ranger onto a treadmill device and had attached a large hosiery to the tailpipe. As he watched a screen he drove the Ranger as if he were driving it on the road. Accelerating and braking when necessary. The large hose collects the exhaust to check for emissions. The inspector let the driver return to the Ranger while he gathered the results.With a smile he politely verbalise, Congratulations, yo u passed. The next few vehicles went through the same process. There was a different test, however, performed on a 2000 Chevrolet Blazer. After the inspector performed the gas cap pressure check, he plugged something into the bottom of the dashboard. I asked him what this process was and he give tongue to it was a scan tool and it is plugged into the OBD connector on the Blazer. He said it will read the Blazers computer and analyze whether or not the OBD system is working properly.I was at the Clean Air Car Check site for a little over an hour. Unfortunately, I did not see any vehicles that were from 1976-1980 so the probe test was not performed. Before I left, I asked the inspector why diesel engine trucks do not have to be tested. He said, Unlike stiff gas exhaust, the exhaust from a diesel engine has really low levels of the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. They just arent as polluting as regular cars. not necessarily agreeing with his last statement, I asked him how long he h ad worked there. He said with a smile, 10 long years.I have learned a lot, almost too much. Effectiveness How effective is emission testing? It is effective enough to reduce emission pollution by 4,000 pounds every summer day. I asked the emission test inspector his opinion on the effectiveness of emission testing. If our cars were not tested, the air would be much worse. He said, I think that having your car tested and repaired is keeping that much more crap out of our air. My friend, who we will call Jan, said, Emission testing is a big pain in the butt, and only three counties in Indiana do it, and I thinkTHAT alone is bull. Doesnt make sense. I think that if they are going to do it, it should be in all fifty states, and all counties. She continued, But, if it is helping reduce the pollution in the air we breathe, I guess I will have to put up with it. I think that testing is effective because if a vehicle does not pass, it has a time period to be repaired or it will not be abl e to get registered. This car will not be allowed to drive on the road, and that is less emission toxics flowing into our air. purposeEmission pollution is a major issue in not only Indiana, but the rest of the country. If these toxics are released from our vehicles, and emission testing can help reduce the flow, then I strongly believe it is a step in the right direction.