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J Air Waste Manag Assoc

Title:		The effect of reformulated gasoline on ambient carbon monoxide concentrations in southeastern Wisconsin
Author(s):		Foley TA; Rendahl CS; Kenski D;
Address:		"Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, USA. foleyt@dnr.state.wi.us"
Journal Title:		J Air Waste Manag Assoc
Year:		2003
Volume:		53
Issue:		8
Page Number:		1003 - 1010
DOI:		10.1080/10473289.2003.10466244
ISSN/ISBN:		1096-2247 (Print) 1096-2247 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Reformulated gasoline (RFG) contains oxygen additives such as methyl tertiary butyl ether or ethanol. The additives enable vehicles to burn fuel with a higher air/fuel ratio, thereby lowering the emission of carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Because VOCs react with sunlight to form ozone (O3), the Clean Air Act requires severe O3 nonattainment areas such as southeastern Wisconsin to use RFG. On July 17, 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL, a waiver from the VOC reduction requirement of Phase II RFG. The VOC reduction requirement was lowered from 27.4% of the 1990 baseline fuel to 25.4%. The assumption was that ethanol-blended RFG would lower summertime CO concentrations sufficiently to offset the increased VOC emissions. The waiver is estimated to increase VOC emissions by approximately 0.8%, or 0.4 t of VOC on a hot summer weekday. This study evaluates whether RFG has been effective in lowering southeastern Wisconsin ambient CO concentrations. Three years of ambient CO data before RFG was introduced were compared with the first three years of ambient CO data after RFG was introduced. This paper also evaluates how the meteorology, vehicle inspection/maintenance program, vehicle miles traveled, and stationary source emissions influence CO concentrations. The winter decrease in ambient CO concentrations was found to be statistically significant, while the summer data showed no statistically significant change, indicating that RFG is most effective lowering ambient CO concentrations in cold weather"
Keywords:		"Air Pollution/*prevention & control Carbon Monoxide/*analysis Carcinogens, Environmental/*analysis Environment Environmental Monitoring Gasoline/*analysis Wisconsin;"
Notes:		"MedlineFoley, Theresa A Rendahl, Craig S Kenski, Donna eng 2003/08/29 J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2003 Aug; 53(8):1003-10. doi: 10.1080/10473289.2003.10466244"