Time to trot out Alanis, cuz this is what the kids call "ironic": a
study from Stanford University says widespread use of ethanol in
vehicles could have serious health effects. Atmospheric scientist Mark
Jacobson ran computer models comparing air quality in 2020 based on use
of both gasoline and E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent
gasoline currently seeing a big old political and industrial push. He
found that the ethanol blend would produce more ground-level ozone than
gasoline, estimating that it could lead to a 4 percent increase in
ozone-related deaths nationwide by 2020. The study, published in the
online edition of the journal
Environmental Science & Technology
,
also says hospitalizations for respiratory issues could increase and
fuel-related cancer rates would likely remain the same. "We found that
using E85 will cause at least as much health damage as gasoline," says
Jacobson. "The question is, if we're not getting any health benefits,
then why continue to promote ethanol?"
straight to the source: Science Daily, 18 Apr 2007
straight to the source: Science Daily, 18 Apr 2007
