3 strategies to curb auto pollution
Today, 45 million Americans go to school, work, or live within 300 feet of a major roadway, railroad, or airport. For these millions, there’s a growing concern about the quality of air they’re breathing. Research overwhelmingly shows that cars and trains create dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and fine particulate matter.
Short and long-term exposure to these and other traffic pollutants has been linked to increased risk of asthma, stroke, lung cancer, and other diseases. In fact, in the United States alone, vehicle pollution contributes to some 53,000 premature deaths each year. So officials are drafting policies and laws to decrease auto emissions. These three strategies could help keep our our roadways (and airways) clear:
Idling Restrictions
The average American car idles for 16 minutes each day. That may not seem like much, but consider this: Idling vehicles in the U.S. pump 93 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (or 1.6 percent of total domestic emissions) into the atmosphere every year.
Over the past few decades, more than 20 states have passed anti-idling laws that fine drivers who leave their engine running while their car is stopped at any location for more than five minutes. In New Jersey, for example, investigators from the state Department of Environmental Protection Agency and the police can ticket passenger and commercial vehicles from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on where the vehicle is and whether or not it’s incurred prior idling tickets. In 2008 and 2009, Boston authorities fined a bus company and a waste hauling company nearly $1 million for leaving multiple vehicles idling in company parking facilities. And more recently, the city of London has placed digital signs at the Tower Bridge asking drivers to shut off their engines when the drawbridge is raised.
Vehicle Limitations
In cities experiencing air pollution crises, officials are taking more-direct action than just cracking down on idling cars. In New Delhi, which was recently announced as the most-polluted city in the world, officials instituted a plan earlier this year that removed half of the city’s private vehicles from the road. Cars with even- and odd-numbered license plates were only allowed in the city on alternate days. The regulation, referred to as “car rationing,” has since been lifted, but early data showed that fine particulate matter levels fell by 10 percent in its first week. A similar even-odd scheme has been implemented in Beijing since 2008, when the city hosted the Olympics. There, air pollution decreases 21 percent on the intermittent days when rationing is active.
Sharper Emissions Monitoring
Research shows that 25 percent of cars, mostly old vehicles or ones rigged to trick inspectors, account for 90 percent of all air pollution. American officials are grappling with strategies to identify drivers and even automakers who tamper with their cars to cheat federal and state emission tests. One idea they’re testing is a roadside sensor that can determine an individual vehicle’s emissions based on its exhaust. Officials could use the sensor to flag scofflaw vehicles for an urgent inspection.
Across the pond, in Birmingham, England, trials are underway to test a similar sensor. The system is one way to identify serial polluters, and one day it could include a camera to snap offending license plates as they pass.
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Disclaimers
1 Airmega air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander in the air based on KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing. They have been tested according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers. Tested with Airmega Aim, 50, 100, 150, Tower AP-1216L, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
2Our HEPA filter complies with IEST-RP-CC007 standards at speed level 1 as tested by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance). SGS's test report only reflects SGS's evaluation of the sample and does not reflect the evaluation of the batch of goods from which the sample was taken. Tested with Airmega 100, 150, 160, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 250 Art, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
3 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to JEM 1467: 2015 condition, the concentration of acetic acid was proven to be reduced up to 99.5% in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on actual environment. Tested with Airmega 150, Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
4 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022, showed result of over 99.5% removal rate of common household gases including Ammonia, Acetaldehyde, Acetic acid, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Benzene, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) within 30 minutes. Results may vary in different environments and not all odors or gas particles may be removed. Tested with Airmega MightyS AP-1512HHS, 250S, 300S, 400S, 350, 450
5 Test conducted using Coway Allergen filter media (5×5 cm) placed in a polyethylene bag. The allergen solution and sample were immersed in 2 mL of phosphate buffer (100 ng/mL) prior to the reaction and heat-sealed to specimen size. The reaction was maintained at 4°C for 24 hours. Nichinichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. conducted the test using ELISA to measure allergen concentration. Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
6 Removal rates of Ammonia (NH₃) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) were tested in a 1 m³ chamber under EL608:2023 conditions for 30 minutes. Gas Detector Tubes were used for measurement, and testing was conducted by KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories). Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
7 Reduction rates of Naphthalene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide were tested using the Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH in 1㎥ chamber, following JEM-1467:2015 standards. Tests were conducted by Intertek. Actual performance may vary depending on the living environment. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
9 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted with Methyl mercaptan, Isovaleraldehyde, Isovaleric acid in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber with a test time of 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of over 99.5% was achieved. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
10 Tested by the Guangzhou Institute of Microbiology, exposed the filter media to protein solutions for 24 hours under ISO 4333-2022 standard. The results showed strong reduction performance: >99.79% for pollen, >99.60% for dog allergen, >99.90% for cat allergen, and >99.80% for dust mites matter allergen. Actual results may vary depending on room size, airflow, and pollutant levels. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
11 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber for 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of >99.5% was achieved for Formaldehyde and Toluene in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
12 Tested by Intertek. The evaluation was conducted against designated test materials: Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. The test was performed in a sealed 1.0×1.0×1.0 m (1.0 m³) odor chamber at a test room temperature of (23±2)°C (measured between 23.6∼23.9°C) and a test room humidity of (45±5)% R.H. (measured between 40∼48)% Relative Humidity. It met the odor removal rate of ≥99.9% for Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
