Necessity of the environmental assessment to evaluate projects related with the use of alternative gasoline fuels in densely populated metropolitan areas
Por:
Bravo Humberto A., Torres Ricardo J.
Publicada:
1 ene 1996
Resumen:
The severity of a photochemical smog situation depends on the level of the precursors such as nitric oxide and non-methane hydrocarbons, and also of the concentration of individual components of the mixture of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. It has been recognized that the transition from leaded to unleaded fuels, requires of a new composition of gasoline, which could result in an increased potential for photochemical smog, since additional reactive components in the gasoline would be used, in place of lead, to boost the octane number. This has been demonstrated in a very densely populated metropolitan area such as Mexico City, where photochemical smog is at the present one of the major urban air pollution problems of the World. The experience of Mexico City is that, after the introduction of every new gasoline mixture since 1986 by the Mexico's national company, PEMEX, the photochemical smog over the metropolitan area has increased to a frequency and levels similar or greater than of Los Angeles in the 1950's an early 1960's. Recently, PEMEX announced the future launching to the market of a new or mixture of gasoline called NOVA SIN. This gasoline will have no lead and will be used by almost one million vehicles not equipped with catalytic converters. However, any study related with the expected effect on both, the present air quality and the photochemical activity has not been performed by PEMEX. The aim of this paper is to discuss the necessity to conduct an environmental impact assessment to such project prior to be launching it, because of the past negative experiences in the photochemical activity of the Mexico City Metropolitan Zone atmosphere.