At 08:01 PM 12/9/00 EST, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>Green fuels could mean death for sparrows
The ingredients mentioned in this article are toxic no doubt. Benzene is a
class A carcinogen I think, and the other stuff MTBE is a nerve toxin. These
additives actually do not increase the efficiency of the fuel. What they do
is act as oxygenators in the fuel. The addition of oxygenators improves the
air flow to fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine on "older gas
guzzlers' in contrast to modern technologies like heat sensors, catalytic
converters, etc., which do not benefit from 'oxygenation' additives. The
MTBE and benzene [I cannot believe it] are supposed to reduce the emissions
of carbon monoxide, and ozone, which cause serious respiratory problems,
especially in children. Ethanol is another additive which improves the air
to fuel ration, but the reality is that these additives do no good because
the new carberators are much more effective, and pollution control systems
are extremely effective at eliminating or reducing carbon monoxide and even
ozone because of complete combustion. The old engines that run on leaded gas
can just as easily run on unleaded gas. Ozone and carbon monoxide are
produced through incomplete combustion. The worst thing about MTBE and other
oxygenators is that with the higher octane content you get lower fuel
efficiency. That is a fact....and we should ELIMINATE the internal
combustion engine from cities. Only electric or hydrogen based fueled
engines should be allowed in city centers and in urban areas. The rest of us
will gladly use bikes if there was no risk...in getting bumped by a
car...MTBE was banned in California I think last year because of ground
water contamination....
John Foster
>
>UK: December 8, 2000
>
>LONDON - Chemicals used to make environmentally-friendly
>fuels could spell disaster for many British birds, experts said
>on Thursday.
>
>Scientists leading an 18-month probe into the sharp decline in sparrow
>and starling populations in Britain believe two of the chemical
>components of unleaded petrol - benzene and MTBE or methyl tertiary
>butyl ether - could be directly responsible.
>
>Billed as cleaner and greener, unleaded petrol uses the toxic chemicals
>to boost its octane-rating.
>
>The European Union has set targets to reduce the level of benzene
>found in petrol by 80 percent, while MTBE is being phased out in
>Denmark and parts of America.
>
>Sharp falls in the number of sparrows found in Britain in recent years
>prompted the Department of Transport Environment and the Regions to
>fund the research, which began on December 1.
>
>Data collected by the British Trust of Ornithology show the a 50
>percent fall in London's house sparrow population in the last five
>years, with starlings dropping by around 61 percent nationwide.
>
>The Trust's director of projects, Dr Nigel Clark, said researchers had
>noted a correlation between the falls in bird numbers and the
>introduction of unleaded fuels, particularly in areas of high traffic
>congestion.
>
>"One option is that (the chemicals) are having a direct effect on the
>birds, or they may be having an effect on invertebrate populations on
>which they feed," he said.
>
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>
>As far as wind generators smacking a few birds in the jaw, the fact is that
>the 500 coal fired electric plants in the US and Canada are not only killing
>birds but poisoning the earth and water with acidity, and heavy metals
>leaching from the soil, killing fish and poisoning loons. And do not forget
>all the radiation that is spewed into the air from coal burning as well as
>lead, cadmium and zinc. That coal is filthy compared to wind power...
>
>How come you always copy the words that I use. I say linear and use say
>linear, I say distortion and manipulation and then you say it? Maybe you are
>engaging finally in the refrain....sing along now....
>
>chuckling mildly
>
>john foster
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>In a message dated 12/09/00 9:36:23 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
>> As far as wind generators smacking a few birds in the jaw, the fact is that
>> the 500 coal fired electric plants in the US and Canada are not only
>killing
>> birds but poisoning the earth and water with acidity, and heavy metals
>> leaching from the soil, killing fish and poisoning loons. And do not
>forget
>> all the radiation that is spewed into the air from coal burning as well as
>> lead, cadmium and zinc. That coal is filthy compared to wind power...
>>
>> How come you always copy the words that I use. I say linear and use say
>> linear, I say distortion and manipulation and then you say it? Maybe you
>are
>> engaging finally in the refrain....sing along now....
>>
>> chuckling mildly
>>
>> john foster
>>
>>
>
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