Clean Air News

More Hybrid-Electric and Electric Cars on the Road Would Reduce Air Toxics by 42%

As the new home of NCPIRG's environmental work, Environment North Carolina can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release. 

RALEIGH—The air in 96 North Carolina counties contains hazardous air pollutants that increase the risk of getting cancer, according to a new analysis of federal air pollution data by the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group (NCPIRG). The assessment, Clean Cars, Cleaner Air, shows that requiring auto manufacturers to make more electric and hybrid-electric vehicles for sale would reduce these pollutant levels by 42 percent.

"Most of the state's counties are enduring unsafe levels of toxic air, and much of this pollution is coming from cars, trucks, and buses," said Elizabeth Ouzts, NCPIRG's Director. "Clean cars are a key part of the solution for cleaner air."

NCPIRG's analysis used federal estimates of concentrations of the probable carcinogens benzene; 1,3-butadiene; formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde in outdoor air from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 1996 National Air Toxics Assessment, the most recent data available. According to the analysis:

• Ambient concentrations of 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and benzene exceeded cancer-risk benchmarks set by the EPA in 96, 65, and 63 counties, respectively. Acetaldehyde concentrations exceed the benchmark in Mecklenburg, Durham, and Guilford counties.

• Mecklenburg, Durham, Guilford, Buncombe, and Forsyth have the highest ambient concentrations from on-road mobile sources of the four primary air toxics. These counties also have some of highest levels of toxic pollution in the nation.

• Rural counties collectively in North Carolina emit more of the four most prevalent air toxics from on-road mobile sources than the rural counties of any other state in the lower 48.

"We know the health effects of many of the carcinogens in this study, chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde," said Deborah Bryan, Director of Government Relations for the American Lung Association of NC. "The effects of these harmful chemicals add up over a lifetime."

Cars, trucks, and buses contribute to over 50% of airborne concentrations of benzene and 1,3-butadiene, and approximately 20% of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde emissions in North Carolina. According to the analysis, automobile emission standards that include requirements for the production of electric, hybrid-electric, and other alternative fuel vehicles would reduce airborne toxic pollution by 42% and smog-forming volatile organic compound pollution by 36% by the year 2020.

The report recommended that North Carolina adopt these automobile emission standards, create other incentives for the development and use of clean vehicles, and adopt policies to reduce emissions of air toxics from non-road sources, such as smokestacks.

This May, Raleigh lawmakers will debate two proposals following the report's recommendations. Rep. Joe Tolson has sponsored H1213, a bill to boost the sale of hybrid-electric, electric, and alternative-fuel vehicles by creating a fund for rebates to purchasers of these cleaner vehicles. Rep. Martin Nesbitt and Senator Steve Metcalf have sponsored S1078, a bill to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants by 70%.

"We urgently need to reduce air pollution to protect our health by all available, cost-effective means," said Representative Joe Tolson.

"Ultra-clean cars are an important way to permanently protect public health from toxic air pollution and to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Anne Tazewell, Triangle J Council of Governments Clean Cities Coordinator.

NCPIRG is a statewide advocate for the public interest in North Carolina.

The Triangle Clean Cities Coalition is a group of over 35 public and private stakeholders working together through the support of the U.S. Department of Energy to increase the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, compressed natural gas, propane, liquid natural gas and electricity in motor vehicles.

Founded in 1904, the American Lung Association strives to make breathing easier for everyone through programs of education, community service, advocacy, and research.