How To Green Your Car
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.16.06
What’s the Big Deal?
Cars are one of the great mixed bags of our time. They are at once wonders of engineering and a threat to life on Earth. They create convenience and comfort and also snarled traffic and sprawling suburbs. In the US, about 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and light trucks like SUVs, contributing to climate change, air pollution, and disease. If you are truly trying to lighten your environmental footprint, the first thing to do is ask if you do in fact need a car. If the answer is yes, there are many things you can do to make your driving life greener.Guide Navigation
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1. Drive a green car
There are now hybrids to match almost any need: two-door, four-door, SUV, luxury sedan. They get better mileage than their conventional counterparts, have cleaner emissions, and save money on gas. If a hybrid isn’t in your future, try for a car with the best MPG you can find; and remember that hybrids aren’t always the most efficient option, either. Biodiesel can now be found in almost any state in the US. This clean, domestic, veggie-based, carbon-neutral fuel will run in any diesel car or truck with little or no modification to the engine. Straight vegetable oil is an option for the more ambitious green driver and can make fueling up almost free. Another veggie fuel is ethanol, and there are between 5-6 million flex-fuel vehicles already on the road—you may even be driving one and not know it. Also, affordable, practical electric cars and plug-in hybrids aren’t too far off, either. But whether or not you drive a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle, there’s lots you can do to green your car right now.
2. Best practices
Driving technique has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit.Not only does speeding and herky-jerky driving kill your MPG, it's dangerous. And even if no one gets hurt in a fender bender, how green is it to get a new bumper or have your car re-painted? As a general rule of thumb, keep your engine speeds between 1,200—3,000 RPMs, and up-shift between 2,000—2500 RPMs. Also, drive wise and minimize unnecessary miles by doing errands in one trip, getting good directions, and calling ahead.
3. Stay in tune
Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Pump up: if every American’s tires were properly inflated we could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk! All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy.
4. Car minus the carbon
There are many services out there now that can help you calculate your yearly emissions from driving and offset those greenhouse gasses through various means. Check below for a few carbon offset opportunities.
5. Carpool
Of course. Find coworkers, neighbors, and fellow students headed the same direction. Start with one shared trip per week. Also look into car sharing programs like FlexCar and ZipCar.
6. Leave the car at home.
For shorter adventures, walk, take public transit, ride your bike (regular, electric-assisted, or something fancier [http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/bluevelo_velomo.php]), skateboard, rollerblades, or even look into an electric scooter. Carrying groceries or other bulky stuff can still be done on a bike with a backpack or some slick modifications. Check out the Xtracycle, for example.
7. Drive part of the way
If getting where you’re going by bike or public transit alone isn’t going to happen, consider driving part of the way and then jumping on public transit or your bike (a folder would be perfect). A great way to beat traffic!
8. Easy on the AC
Use the windows to help keep the car cool. Or try an electric or solar fan. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off when you get back in. If you car is new, however, let it air out. That new car smell is not friendly stuff.
9. Telecommuting
Drive less with the wonders of working from home (or internet café, treehouse, Mojave desert, etc.) With instant messaging, video chat, teleconferencing, and other world-flattening technologies, making the rush-hour trek to work and back might not be that necessary. Ask your boss or offer your employees a teleconferencing day once a week. Hey, it works for TreeHuggers and 44 million Americans.
10. Aspire to carlessness
Not everyone is going to be able to do it, at least not cold carkey. It will probably entail a shift in thinking and some time, but living carfree might be more within reach than you think. Living closer to work and school is a big part of it. Walking, biking, public transport, car sharing, car borrowing, and teleconferencing are a strong arsenal of tools to help reduce the need for a car. Give it some thought.
1. Speak up
Become an advocate for strong fuel-economy standards, better public transit, more bike lanes, better sidewalks, and more car-free areas in your city. Many communities are not designed for life without an automobile, but that can change with some good planning and political will.
2. Organize your coworkers
Get a ride–sharing network going at work. (Maybe you’ll even get a raise)
3. Good tires
Different tires affect MPG in different ways. When you’re in the market for new tires, look for the ones that help give you the best mileage. (And don’t forget about proper inflation!)
4. Push for congestion charges in downtown areas
Too many cars in the same area at the same time? Singapore, London, and Edinburgh, for example, all use congestion charging to tax cars that enter heavily congested areas during the workweek.
5. If you´re the boss
If you are an employer, there’s almost no limit to the things you can do to encourage greener driving from your employees. A growing number of bosses are using rewards and perks to encourage employees to rideshare and drive hybrids or other fuel-efficient cars. You can also subsidize passes for public transit, make your office bike friendly (anything from having good bike racks to having showers), and set a good example with your own transport choices. Facilitating telecommuting can also save on fuel, emissions, and time wasted commuting.
6. Start a biodiesel or veggie-oil coop
If biodiesel is not readily available in your area (or the local pump only sells B20), rally up the interested parties and start a cooperative. Los Angeles and many other cities have effective models running.
1. Keeping up on your car’s maintenance, things like regular oil changes, air-filter changes, and spark plug replacements can increase your MPG up to 25%.
2. The production of each car, on average, releases 4 tons of carbon emissions and nearly 700 pounds of other pollutants into the atmosphere.
3. In 2000, the U.S. produced 2 million gallons of biodiesel; in 2005 it produced around 75 million gallons. In September of 2006, sixty-five companies reported having plants currently under construction and thirteen more are planning expansions.
4. The average fuel economy of passenger cars peaked in 1987 when it was 22.1 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks. The EPA estimates that 2006 average fuel economy, despite two decades of improvements in automobile technology, is 21 mpg.
5. Switching from an average car to a 13 mpg SUV would use as much energy as leaving your refrigerator door open for six years. (SC)
6. The average rush-hour commuter spent 62 hours in traffic in 2000.
7. In small urban and rural areas, traffic and congestion is increasing 11% each year, which is twice as fast as in urban areas.
Each Summer, high levels of smog pollution lead to 159,000 trips to the emergency room, 53,000 hospital admissions, and 6 million asthma attacks.
The Sierra Club estimates that the average yearly cost of driving a single-occupant car is between $4,826 and $9,685, while the average cost of a year´s worth of public transportation is between $200 and $2000.
1. What is biodiesel, anyway?
Biodiesel, the common name for fatty acid alkyl esters, is a biological-based fuel that can substitute petroleum fuels in diesel engines. It can be made from virgin vegetable oil, animal fats, algae, or from recycled oils like those used by restaurants for deep-frying. Biodiesel burns cleaner than fossil fuel diesel and has less carbon monoxide, aromatic hydrocarbons, and particulate matter (soot). It does, however, release more nitrous oxide than regular diesel, a factor in smog. Biodiesel is often called a carbon neutral fuel because while it does release carbon dioxide, it is the same carbon absorbed by the plant (or animal) source from which the fuel came. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, release carbon dioxide that could otherwise remain sequestered below the earth’s surface, out of the atmosphere.
2. And what’s veggie oil?
Diesel engines can also run on straight vegetable oil (SVO), but modifications are most often required. Since vegetable oil has a higher viscosity (is thicker), it needs to be heated before it can flow properly. A veggie oil conversion is a system that, in one of several ways, heats the vegetable oil to the appropriate temperature before burning it in the engine.
3. What is a plug-in hybrid?
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) resembles a typical hybrid car but has additional battery capacity that allows it to travel significant distances on electric power alone. A PHEV functions like an electric vehicle for local driving, but has a gasoline motor which can kick in if the car’s charge is depleated. Plug-ins can get 100 miles per gallon or more but, unlike EVs, can always be refueled with gasoline if need be. Currently, no car manufacturer sells a plug-in hybrid, but several companies are developing the technology and retrofit kits are available on the market for the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape hybrids. A number of advocacy groups like CalCars and Plug-in America are also pushing hard to see plug-ins on the road. (See below for more)
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Below is a selection of material that has appeared on TreeHugger. For even deeper digging, you can start by checking out our Cars & Transportation section. For the interactive experience, be sure to take a look at the comments our diligent readers have left.
1. Electric Cars
Ever since the death of GM´s EV1, electric cars have fallen off the radar somewhat. They´re coming back now and many experts think it won´t be long before we´re seeing them all over the roads.
Here´s a quick look at the EVs available to US drivers. Phoenix Motorcars is one of the companies with its sights set on affordable, practical electric cars for everyone. George Clooney´s EV of choice, the Tango, may seem a bit, well, narrow, but take a look at the acceleration and then look again. While Smart city cars zip through the streets of Europe, the yanks can´t seem to get them so easily. Maybe they´ll leapfrog right on to the electric version. And don´t forget that the trusted Toyota RAV4 EVs are still out there if you can find (and afford) one.
The Tesla made big waves when the news broke that a high-performance electric sports car was hitting the market. TreeHugger has been somewhat obsessed with the clean speedster and has made some initial observations as well as done some deeper digging (1 and 2). And according to the makers of the Tesla, they´ve also got more practical, family-friendly autos on the way.
2. Plug-ins
TreeHugger takes a look at what the plug-in fuss is all about. Also see how Google is getting in on the action, how Ford may be game, and what’s going on with conversion kits. And of course make sure to see TH TV´s coverage of a plug-in conversion from start to finish. The folks at Tesla Motors weigh in on the issue, and there´s some more discussion and breakdown of the battery issues. Also check out a few other keen (non-plug-in) hacks for the Prius.
3. Biodiesel
Now that biodiesel has a earned its place in the dictionary and is enjoying commodity status, people are paying a lot more attention to this earth-friendly, farmer-friendly, fryer-friendly fuel. Celebs seem to love the stuff. Biodiesel adventurers can now find their nearest pump with a phone call or an interactive map. The veggie fuel can now be seen (and maybe smelled?) in the famous Le Mans race, and travelers in LA can rent a bio Beetle for their touring pleasure. For those interested in homebrewing, look here and here, and you might even consider heating your home with it. Making biodiesel from algae is an idea that´s gaining traction as well (1, 2).
4. Fuel cells
While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are still overcoming some intimidating obstacles, worldwide interest continues to grow. Honda has the FCX concept, GM has the Hy Wire, and Chevy´s Equinox will be testing in the hands of everyday drivers in 2007.
5. Concept cars, prototypes, and green dream cars
Innovation is born of imagination, and TreeHugger is always on the lookout for the latest succulent designs coming out of the audo design studios. Some are pure fantasy, some are one of a kind, and some help lay the groundwork for more practical developments in green transport. The Mercedes-Benz Recy recycled roadster is designed from wood, metal, and plastic and can could the loop at the end of its life (if it´s ever born). Citroën´s C-Métisse is a diesel hybrid concept James Bond could get behind. Daimler Chrysler has taken cues from the fishes in its biomimetic Boxfish. Volvo has the beautiful 3CC electric two-seater concept. The Ford Reflex is a diesel/electric hybrid with some solar flare. Venturi promises that its solar/electric hybrid, the Astrolab, will be on the market before too long. You might not want to drive the Wrightspeed X1 to Whole Foods for groceries, but for beating the pants off a Ferrari it could be the perfect thing. Smart has a boxy and beautiful urban concept , and Ford has a Cradle to Cradle SUV called the Model U. The Audi R-Zero is a French–designed electric beauty that will not likely ever touch the pavement. Toyota´s full of strange and intriguing species like the multi-directional Fine-X fuel cell the Fine-N fuel-cell hybrid, as well as their i-unit personal mobility concept.
In addition to Treehugger.com, other organizations have put together resources that may be helpful as you continue to green your life.
Driving Tips for TreeHuggers, presented by Click and Clack.
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy puts out an Environmental Guide to Green Cars each year ranking all automobiles in terms of their efficiency.
The Sierra Club has developed a Mile-per-gallon Calculator, which lets you figure out how much you would save if fuel-economy standards were updated.
Environmental Defense TailPipe Tally – see how much your specific automobile pollutes.
Now that cars are electronically controlled, idling to warm them up is no longer necessary. So skip the warm-up and save emissions.
SmartGrowth.org provides helpful tips for making your community more liveable.
Congestion charging is one way to see the full cost of driving your car, here is how London does it.
EcoBusiness Links provides a comparison of several carbon offset programs, including price per ton of carbon, and the projects that your money is invested into.
The Center for the New American Dream has practical guidance on green car choices, driving, and almost any of corner of your life.
I've heard it doesn't make a difference whether you leave the windows open or use AC to cool your car--the drag created by the windows being open costs as much energy as using the AC.
In the US, about 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and light trucks
16%
How about move where it's possible to do things without a car, at least some of the time?
In most of America, you'd starve without one, so as people demand better cities and neighborhoods, cars will be less and less needed regardless of how green they are.
Depending on how fast you are driving, having the windows down can actually use more energy than using the AC. And as AC compressors move to electric power (like on the Prius) they are becoming more effieicnt because they can run at the optimal RPM regardless of the engine speed.
How about convincing your municipality to properly time the stoplights so you don't have to stop? That should be relatively easy and cheap to do, and is a huge fuel saver.
timing the stoplights for cars may save fuel, but it can create life-threatening situations for pedestrians and cyclists. as a result, most forward-thinking municipalities are looking for ways to calm traffic, not accelerate it.
I remember watching MythBusters on Discovery doing an experiment on the window/AC issue.
If you're going over 50 mph or say on the highway, it's better to use the AC. Open the window on anything less than 50.
If you have a fender bender or your car dies, get it the hell off of the road (push if need be) so you don't create a traffic jam.
Don't impede others with selfish, slow driving in the left hand lane. Signal your turns well in advance.
I have a friend who works with the Vancouver traffic department. Traffic lights there are purposely ill timed to discourage driving.
Cities should install left turn lights at all busy intersections.
Cities should hurry up with their infernal road construction projects to minimize obstructing drivers. Do one at a time quickly rather than a simultaneous dozen slowly.
I don't see what driving the speed limit has to do with fuel economy. Should i therefore drive the highway limit in residential areas? Speed limits are for people who are not confident with their driving skills, and for ticket revenue generation.
Legalize lane splitting by motorcycles.
On non-busy streets, pedestrians should wait for gaps in traffic to cross the street rather than make a dozen cars stop. Pedestrians should not have right of way at uncontrolled intersections. Never stop for jaywalkers and cyclists who are mounted.
How much electricty do stoplights use?
How much fuel is wasted idling at stoplights?
How much time is wasted at stoplights?
Roundabouts save time, fuel and do not use electric
This post is way too scattered... how about some more detailed info for the owner of a car they can't afford to replace, and don't have access to buses and trains?
Technically, there isn't a whole lot that gets done during "tune ups". I'm not a mechanic, but from my reading and experience, here is some things that can be done to improve mileage, but note! Keeping tires properly inflated seems to work the best, at least on my 13 year old Jeep. None of this even cost me too much money... so even if you aren't a greeny, you can get behind it.
BTW - these mods result in more power - use it wisely..."keep your foot out of it", and see an mpg bump.
I did all these to my '93 Wrangler with 132k miles, which is my alternate ride. My usual is a Trek/Bombardier combination, running pedal power and then electric from Princeton Junction to New Brunswick.
High flow, non-disposable air filter. Replaces paper filters perfectly, needs cleaning after 50k miles, or sooner if you drive in dusty conditions. Google K&N.
A step further is an open element cold-air intake. More power, more money. Also, a throttle body spacer, wider throttle, or a chip mod. Stay away from the tornado.
Good spark plugs: go for the hype, use platinum plugs. They'll last 100k miles. While you are at it, get high quality wires too. A step further is a higher powered ingition to make sure you get complete combustion.
Synthetic oil: Less friction = more efficiency. I'm a mobil 1 fan, oil and filter. Hardcore guys like Royal Purple.
New 02 sensors: after 100k miles, replace em. Might need a sensor socket for your ratchet, many parts stores lend them out (how green!). Might be tough to remove, I had to heat mine, and use a breaker bar. Be careful!
New Cat: Change your old catylitic converter. I found a great deal on a hi-po Magnaflow (direct fit!) converter online, and the local shop installed it for me for $80. Total cost, under $200, and passed emissions with flying colors. AND - the old one was in such bad condition, it was heating the (metal) floor of my car, making it too hot to touch, bad for everything! BTW - direct fit - no welding, cheaper install even if its more expensive to buy.
New exhaust: less restrictive pipes and muffler make more noise, but allow power to be made more efficiently. I used a Dynomax direct fit kit I found on Amazon. Hard part was getting the old rusted one off!
So sorry to chew everyone's ears off... but this post really was too far fetched for the common person to take advantage of. Does anyone reading treehugger need to be told to walk or ride, or carpool, or join a car collective?
I don't think so - but we can all be informed about efficiency upgrades, and reminded to inflate our tires!
BTW - my old Jeep gets better mileage than rated (sometimes 2mpg more, 15 to 17), after 132k miles. Provided I "keep my foot out of it" and keep my tires inflated.
DS
Conventional hybrids really aren't all they're cracked up to be. Only plug-ins make sufficient gains in operating efficiency to offset the extra energy required to manufacture them.
It's really trendy to worry about fuel efficiency in-use, but there seems to be a real lack of acknowledgement for manufacturing costs. So much is simple marketing. Just buy a smaller car with a conventional engine- you get the same fuel efficiency, use less raw material, and greatly reduce the energy in the manufacturing stage.
Luxury/SUV hybrids are self defeating, no?
Otherwise, good post. I'd suggest #10 should be #1 though....
Number 1 tip should be: Keep driving your old car. This follows from By The Numbers #2 -- production of every new car releases 4 tons of carbon and 700 lbs of other pollutants into the atmosphere. YOU DO NOT NEED A NEW CAR if you keep your old one in decent running order. Unless of course your old car is a Hummer.
Actually, above about 20mph, keeping the windows open is a greater drag on the car and wastes more gas than running the air conditioning.
I can't believe the auto mfr's and you pedestrians are all atwitter over 3 or 5mpg improvement! Likewise the calls for biodiesel or even worse buy a new car!
Who will grow enough plants to satisfy all those cars? And when China really comes online?
How much electricity (from coal!) goes into making a new car?!
Look at the site www.somender-singh.com
his simple (only hand tools required) addresses all of the concerns listed above with a simple mod to the cylinder head: increased torque +45hp, improved fuel efficiency +15 mpg, cleaner oil, reduced emissions, reduced operating temp - 20 deg., eliminated ping = higher compression ratio, reduced IDLE speed 700 from 100rpm
Sounds ridiculous, but it has been proven repeatedly by home mechanics and dyno test rigs unaffiliated with Mr. Singh.
Face facts! No way are all the millions of cars out there going to be replaced by yuppies in $40,000 golf carts.
Dear Treehugger,
I have read that adding acetone to your gas tank can increase fuel efficiency by about 30% or even more. Can you please investigate this and let us know if this is safe for our cars, and how to do it.
Thanks, Kathy
my contribute is a Mercedec from '87 2.5 Diesel - you can run it on straight vegetable oil without any changings. i just keep an eye on the fuel filter, and on lower temperatures add some normal diesel.
in europe lots of people are driving their old mercedes with filtered oil from KFC...
Isn't this supposed to be a website about environmental issues and how to protect and clean it up? Here's what you might want to know if you are considering using the acetone in your car (environmentally); check out the sources/references at the bottom - you'll find them reputable and not a matter of "opinion".
Also, you might want to consider just how you are supposed to add this chemical to your gas tank - better not spill the stuff on your paint job - it will eat through it - not to mention breathing in the vapors (see article above), etc.
Bottom line - if acetone were worth it wouldn't we have heard about it in national/international news and headlines? Fuel additives, whether they are supposed to keep your fuel dry (dry up water condensation in your gas tank) or "supposed" fuel efficiency increasers are bogus, rip offs and definitely harm our earth!!!
PS - if you want to increase your fuel efficiency see my post re (that is if you drive a stick shift)
PPS - if you want "nitty-gritty" scientific info on chemicals, search for the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
CONTENTS
1.1 What is acetone?
1.2 What happens to acetone when it enters the environment?
1.3 How might I be exposed to acetone?
1.4 How can acetone enter and leave my body?
1.5 How can acetone affect my health?
1.6 Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to acetone?
1.7 What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health?
1.8 Where can I get more information?
References
RELATED RESOURCES
ToxFAQ™ 48k
ToxFAQ™ en Español 30k
Public Health Statement 148k
Toxicological Profile 4.3MB
A-Z INDEX
A B C D E
F G H I J K
L M N O P
Q R S T U
V W X Y Z
ATSDR RESOURCES
ToxFAQs™
ToxFAQs™ en Español
Public Health Statements
Toxicological Profiles
Minimum Risk Levels
MMGs
MHMIs
Interaction Profiles
Priority List of Hazardous Substances
Division of Toxicology
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May 1994
Public Health Statement
for
Acetone
CAS# 67-64-1
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This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for acetone. It is one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous substances and their health effects. A shorter version, the ToxFAQs™, is also available. This information is important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.
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This public health statement tells you about acetone and the effects of exposure. This information is important because this chemical may harm you. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified 1,350 hazardous waste sites as the most serious in the nation. These sites make up the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for long-term federal clean-up. Acetone has been found in at least 560 NPL sites. However, it's unknown how many NPL sites have been evaluated for this substance. As EPA tests more sites, the sites with acetone may increase. This is important because exposure to acetone may harm you and because these sites are or may be sources of exposure.
When a large industrial plant or a small container releases a substance, it enters the environment. This release does not always lead to exposure. You are exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it by breathing, eating, touching, or drinking.
If you are exposed to acetone, many factors determine if you'll be harmed and how badly. These factors include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you're exposed. You must also consider the other chemicals you're exposed to and your age, sex, nutritional status, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health.
1.1 What is acetone?
Acetone is a chemical that is found naturally in the environment and is also produced by industries. Low levels of acetone are normally present in the body from the breakdown of fat; the body can use it in normal processes that make sugar and fat. Acetone is a colorless liquid with a distinct smell and taste. People begin to smell acetone in air at 100 to 140 parts of acetone in a million parts of air (ppm), though some can smell it at much lower levels. Most people begin to detect the presence of acetone in water at 20 ppm. Acetone evaporates readily into the air and mixes well with water. Most acetone produced is used to make other chemicals that make plastics, fibers, and drugs. Acetone is also used to dissolve other substances.
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1.2 What happens to acetone when it enters the environment?
Acetone enters the air, water, and soil as a result of natural processes and human activities. Acetone occurs naturally in plants, trees, volcanic gases, and forest fires. People and animals breathe out acetone produced from the natural breakdown of body fat. Acetone is also released during its manufacture and use, in exhaust from automobiles, and from tobacco smoke, landfills, and certain kinds of burning waste materials. The levels of acetone in soil increase mainly because of acetone-containing wastes being buried in landfills. Acetone is present as a gas in air. Some acetone in air is lost when it reacts with sunlight and other chemicals. Rain and snow also remove small amounts of acetone from the atmosphere and, in the process, deposit it on land and water. About half the acetone in a typical atmosphere at any time will be lost in 22 days. Microbes (minute life forms) in water remove some acetone from water. Some acetone in water will evaporate into air. About half the acetone in a stream will be removed from water in less than a day. Fish do not store acetone from water in their bodies. Microbes in soil remove part of the acetone in soil. Some is lost from soil by evaporation. Acetone molecules do not bind tightly to soil. Rainwater and melted snow dissolve acetone and carry it deeper into the soil to groundwater.
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1.3 How might I be exposed to acetone?
Your body makes small amounts of acetone. You can be exposed to a small amount of acetone by breathing air, drinking water, and eating food with acetone. You can also be exposed by contact with household chemicals with acetone. Several consumer products, including certain nail polish removers, particle board, some paint removers, many liquid or paste waxes or polishes, and certain detergents or cleansers, contain acetone. You can also be exposed to acetone if you are exposed to isopropyl alcohol, because isopropyl alcohol changes to acetone in the body. The level of acetone in air and water is generally low. The amount of acetone in the air of cities is generally higher than in remote and rural areas. The typical level of acetone in the air of cities in the United States is about 7 parts of acetone per billion parts of air (ppb). The level of acetone in air inside homes is usually slightly higher than in outside air (8 ppb versus 7 ppb). This is because of household chemical use inside homes. Acetone in drinking water is so low that its levels have not been measured in many samples. In a national survey, the acetone level in drinking water from Seattle, Washington, was 1 ppb. Acetone occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. The amount of acetone in food does not increase because of processing or packaging. The average amount of acetone an adult in the United States gets from food is not known.
People who work in certain industries that process and use acetone can be exposed to higher levels than the general populace. These industries include certain paint, plastic, artificial fiber, and shoe factories. Professional painters and commercial and household cleaners are also likely to breathe or touch higher acetone concentrations than the general population. As a member of the general public, you may be exposed to higher than normal levels of acetone if you smoke cigarettes, frequently use acetone nail polish removers, live near landfill sites that contain acetone, live near busy roadways (because automobile exhaust contains acetone), or live near other facilities that are known to release acetone, such as incinerators. The exposure from these sources will be mainly from breathing air that contains acetone or by direct skin contact with it. In addition, children can be exposed to acetone by eating dirt or by placing dirty hands in their mouths after exposing their skin to dirt from landfill sites.
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1.4 How can acetone enter and leave my body?
Your body normally contains some acetone because it's made during the breakdown of fat. Your body will make more acetone from body fat if you are on a low-fat diet. In addition to the acetone that your body makes from normal processes, acetone can enter your body if you breathe air that contains acetone, drink water or eat food that contains acetone, or if you touch liquid acetone or soil that contains acetone.
The bloodstream absorbs acetone rapidly and completely from the lungs and stomach. The bloodstream can also absorb acetone from the skin, but less rapidly than from the lungs and stomach. Blood carries acetone to all body organs, but it does not stay there very long.
The liver breaks down acetone to chemicals that are not harmful. The body uses these chemical to make glucose (sugar) and fats that make energy for normal body functions. The breakdown of sugar for energy makes carbon dioxide that leaves your body in the air you breathe out. These are normal processes in the body.
Not all the acetone that enters your body from outside sources is broken down. The amount that is not broken down leaves your body mostly in the air that you breathe out. You also breathe out more carbon dioxide than normal if you are exposed to acetone from sources outside the body because more carbon dioxide is made from the extra acetone.
Only a small amount of acetone that is not broken down leaves the body in the urine. The acetone that is not used to make sugar leaves your body within a few days in the air you breathe out and in the urine. The amount of acetone that enters and leaves your body depends on how much you're exposed to and for how long. The higher the level of acetone and the longer that you are exposed will cause acetone to leave your body more slowly, but almost all the acetone will leave your body within 3 days after your exposure stops. If you exercise or work while exposed to acetone in air, more will enter your lungs because you breathe faster and more deeply during exercise.
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1.5 How can acetone affect my health?
Low levels of acetone are normally present in the body from the breakdown of fat. The body uses acetone in normal processes that make sugar and fats that make energy for normal body functions. Many conditions can lead to higher-than-average amounts of acetone in the body. For example, babies, pregnant women, diabetics, and people who exercise, diet, have physical trauma, or drink alcohol can have higher amounts of acetone in their bodies. These higher amounts of acetone usually don't cause health problems. In addition, acetone can prevent convulsions.
Most of the information on how acetone affects human health comes from medical exams of workers on a single workday; from lab experiments in humans exposed to acetone in air for a few days; and from cases of people who swallowed acetone-based glue or fingernail polish remover.
Workers and people exposed to acetone in the lab complained that acetone irritated their noses, throats, lungs, and eyes. Some people feel this irritation at levels of 100 ppm acetone in the air, and more people feel the irritation as the level in air increases. The workers who complained of irritation were exposed to levels of 900 ppm or more. Workers exposed to acetone at 12,000 ppm or higher also complained of headache, lightheadedness, dizziness, unsteadiness, and confusion depending on how long they were exposed (from 2 minutes to 4 hours). Two workers exposed for 4 hours became unconscious.
In addition, some people who had casts applied with acetone were exposed to acetone that evaporated into air during and after the casts were applied. These patients became nauseous, vomited blood, and became unconscious. These cases happened many years ago; modern hospitals have different methods that don't use acetone when casts are applied. Some people exposed to acetone in the air at about 250 ppm for several hours in the lab had headaches and lacked energy, and they also had some mild behavioral effects. These effects showed up in tests of how long it takes to react to a visual stimulus or the ability to hear different sounds. Some people exposed to 500 ppm in the air for several hours in the lab had effects on the blood, but other studies showed no effects on the blood at even higher exposure levels.
Some women exposed to 1,000 ppm for about 8 hours in a lab said that their periods came earlier than expected. Workers are not usually exposed to levels higher than 750 ppm anymore because of current government regulations. The regulation says workroom air should contain no more than an average of 750 ppm. Most people can smell acetone in the air at 100 to 140 ppm; that means you will probably smell acetone before you feel effects like headache and confusion. Levels of acetone in air in rural areas and in cities (less than 8 ppb) are generally lower than this.
People who swallowed acetone or substances that contained acetone became unconscious, but they recovered in the hospital. The amount of acetone that these people swallowed was not always known, but one man swallowed about 2,250 milligrams of pure acetone per kilogram of body weight (2,250 mg/kg). In addition to becoming unconscious, he had tissue damage in his mouth and he later developed a limp, which eventually cleared up, and symptoms similar to diabetes (excessive thirst, frequent urination). The amount of acetone in water or food would never be high enough to cause these effects, but people, especially children, could accidentally swallow enough acetone in nail polish remover or some household cleaners to cause such effects.
In a lab experiment, people who had liquid acetone applied directly on their skin and held there for a half hour developed skin irritation. When the skin was looked at under a microscope, some of the skin cells were damaged.
Animals briefly exposed to high levels of acetone in the air also had lung irritation and became unconscious; some died. Exposure at lower levels for short periods also affected their behavior. Pregnant animals that were exposed to high levels of acetone in air had livers that weighed more than usual and had fewer fetuses. The fetuses weighed less than normal and had delayed bone development. We do not know how exposure to acetone in air for longer than 2 weeks affects animals.
Animals given large amounts of acetone to swallow or drink for short periods had bone marrow hypoplasia (fewer new cells being made), degeneration of kidneys, heavier than normal livers and bigger liver cells, and collapse and listlessness. Pregnant mice that swallowed acetone had lower body weights and produced fewer newborn mice. More of the newborns of mice that had swallowed acetone died than newborns of mice that were not given acetone.
Male rats that swallowed or drank even small amounts of acetone for long periods had anemia and kidney disease. The female rats did not have anemia, but they had kidney disease when they swallowed a much larger amount of acetone than the male rats swallowed. The female rats had livers and kidneys that weighed more than normal, and so did the male rats, but only when they swallowed larger amounts of acetone than the females swallowed. The male rats also had abnormal sperm. The female rats did not have any effects in their reproductive organs. Rats also had signs that acetone caused effects on their nervous systems.
Acetone is irritating to the skin of animals when it is placed directly on their skin, and it burns their eyes when placed directly in their eyes. One kind of animal (guinea pigs) even developed cataracts in their eyes when acetone was placed on their skin.
We do not know whether many of the effects seen in animals would occur in humans. People exposed to acetone were not examined for some effects or could not be examined for effects that can be seen only by looking at internal organs under a microscope. The findings in animals show that male rats are more likely than female rats to get blood and kidney disease and effects on reproductive organs after exposure to acetone. This suggests that men might be more likely to have effects of exposure to acetone than women.
One effect of acetone seen in animals is an increase in the amount of certain enzymes (chemicals in the body that help break down natural substances in the body and chemicals that enter the body). The increase in these enzymes caused by acetone exposure can make some chemicals more harmful. This is one reason that people should be concerned about being exposed to acetone; exposure is very likely to mixtures of chemicals in the environment, near hazardous waste sites, or in the workplace is very likely.
Acetone does not cause skin cancer in animals when it is applied to their skin. We don't know whether acetone would cause cancer after breathing or swallowing it for long periods, because no tests have been done. The Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have not classified acetone for carcinogenic effects. The EPA has determined that acetone is not classifiable as to its human carcinogenicity.
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1.6 Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to acetone?
Acetone can be measured in the air you breathe out, in the blood, and in the urine. Methods for measuring acetone in breath, blood, and urine are available at most modern testing labs. Doctors' offices may not have the necessary equipment, but your doctor can take blood and urine samples and send them to a testing lab. The measurement of acetone in breath, blood, and urine can determine whether you have been exposed to acetone if the levels are higher than those normally seen. They can even predict how much acetone you were exposed to. However, normal levels of acetone in breath, blood, and urine can vary widely depending on many factors, such as infancy, pregnancy, lactation, diabetes, physical exercise, dieting, physical trauma, and alcohol. The odor of acetone on your breath can alert a doctor that you have been exposed to acetone. An odor of acetone on your breath could also mean that you have diabetes. Because acetone leaves your body within a few days after exposure, these tests can tell only that you have been exposed to acetone within the last 2 or 3 days. These tests cannot tell whether you will experience any health effects related to your exposure.
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1.7 What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health?
EPA requires that spills of 5,000 pounds or more of acetone be reported. To protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a legal limit of 750 ppm of acetone in workroom air. The regulation means that the workroom air should contain no more than an average of 750 ppm of acetone over an 8-hour working shift or over a 40-hour workweek.
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1.8 Where can I get more information?
If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Information line and technical assistance:
Phone: 888-422-8737
FAX: (770)-488-4178
ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.
To order toxicological profiles, contact:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000
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References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 1994. Toxicological profile for acetone. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service
Whether or not you use your ac dosent matter as far as gas mileage is concerned. Its pretty common knowledge, infact it was in an article on the cover of yahoo yesterday.
Latest findings are that using the ac or driving with the windows open make no difference to the amount of fuel burned. I have found the same in long drives (400+KM) from here.
Drove both ways once with ac on and both ways with no ac and found no difference in fuel economy.
"my contribute is a Mercedec from '87 2.5 Diesel - you can run it on straight vegetable oil without any changings. i just keep an eye on the fuel filter, and on lower temperatures add some normal diesel.
in europe lots of people are driving their old mercedes with filtered oil from KFC..."
Right on! I drive a 79 300sd turbodiesel (the brown beast) almost every day. Old diesel Benzes probably deserve a thread of their own, but from my view - as an old car guy, and tree hugger - they're wonderful machines.
Anyone thinking of buying one should understand that these cars were built to last, but if you want a car you can just put gas in and go every day they're probably not for you. It isn't so much that they're singularly unreliable (they're not; the engines and drivetrains last for hundreds of thousands of miles if properly maintained) but *any* car more than fifteen years old is liable to require more attention than a new car, and my experience is that the reason these cars can be more expensive to fix in some cases is that German cars - and especially Mercedes - seem to be almost holistically engineered (while American cars traditionally seemed more modularly engineered) which means that there are some things harder to get to which means more labor (although there are also instances where certain parts that rarely need to be replaced - turbos, vacuum pumps, etc - *are* expensive to buy).
But if you really want an old Mercedes diesel or turbodiesel have a good mechanic check it out, and keep in mind that you will need to change the rubber fuel lines with synthetic ones to run biodiesel (which breaks down natural rubber; it isn't overly expensive and you probably don't need one of those 1000k kits). Avoid cars with rust (the quarter rocker panels rot like almost any European car), and collision damage. The vacuum systems are a pain in the behind on the W116s and W126s (these were the big Benz turbodiesels made in the 70s and 80s; I assume the regular diesels have much the same system but I don't know); I just spent 400 bucks having work done on mine (they control - hyperbolically speaking - almost everything). The climate control systems on the W116s are also a pain in the behind (although the dreaded servo can now be replaced with an aftermarket unit with an aluminum housing from a Tennessee firm). Other things to know: your power window motors *will* fail, you need to change the oil every 3000 miles like clockwork (this is true with any European car more than 15 years old but it's especially true with turbodiesel Benzes; the turbos run on very fine bearings).
I can't speak for diesel Benzes in general, but my W116 300sd (this was the JR Ewing car) is a beautiful car to drive and gets 25+ mpg (I think) on the highway. Diesel is now less than gasoline (as it used to be), and biodiesel sources are becoming more plentiful.
People, there is a really obvious way to reduce pollution conserve fuel and still drive (in the short to medium term anyway).....drive cars with smaller engines! In the USA you really shouldn't be driving cars with engines bigger that 2 litres and here in Europe our engines should be 1.6 litres and less. Don't debate techno fixes just drive smaller engined cars!