Automotive emission and control

The exhaust fumes from automotive vehicles contain varying amounts of toxic gases like Carbon monoxide, hydro-carbons, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur besides particulate like soot/smoke and products resulting from additives in fuel. These cause enormous air pollution and adversely affect health and environments. It is believed that unless checks are made by suitable design and selection of materials to control emission, it may become the largest single disease causing factor at the rate at which automotive industry is growing. In this paper an attempt has been made to discuss on various types of pollutants emanating from automotive vehicles, their source and permissible levels. It has been emphasised that by judicious choice of fuel to air stoichiometry and other measures, significant control of emission could be achieved.