Air pollution in Australian cities, while by global standards is generally considered good, still remains an issue with the World Health Organisation estimating 3000 premature deaths per year linked to urban air pollution, and is only going to get worse with population growth.
Long term exposure to diesel fumes has also been linked to a raft of health issues including dementia, cancer, slower learning progress in children, smaller children in the womb and potentially contributing to long term PTSD in defence personnel.
Diesel particulates specifically are the most damaging to humans, animal and plant health, leading to a growing number of countries around the world banning the future sale of diesel or fossil-fuel cars including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, as well as the European nations of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal as well as Costa Rica in Central America.
Vehicles, especially those that run on diesel, and coal-fired power stations are the main source of Australia’s nitrogen dioxide or NO2 emissions.
Diesel-reducing technology provides effective solution to environmental and health risks
While also helping the government to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets – an engineering solution, such as a stop start motor technology, can address both issues in significantly reducing diesel emissions in fossil-fuel powered vehicles and machinery.
Brisbane-based leading hydraulic engineer, Norm Mathers has investigated the issue with the worlds’ leading scientists and engineers through his Australian innovation company, Mathers Hydraulics Technologies (MHT).
The company has developed a technology which reduces diesel emissions by turning engines off when idle, yet most importantly provides instant high speed start for immediate traffic response, thereby significantly reducing emissions in heavy traffic conditions.
Diesel reducing technology has been most recently applied by giant global machinery manufacturer, Caterpillar, where hydraulic energy capture into hydraulic accumulators saved up to a massive 40 per cent CO2 emissions on hydraulic excavators. Transference of this excavator technology under the guidance of the recently retired Caterpillar hydraulic research manager Dr. Philip McCluskey, a key member of the MHT team, is predicted to achieve significant similar savings in both truck and other machinery use such as Wheel Loaders, Heavy Forklifts, Agricultural Tractors and Harvesters etc.
“In a mining and construction environment as well as defence with heavy-use diesel-powered machines, stop-start technology as well as other proven diesel reducing features should be mandated as a workplace health and safety requirement,” Mr Mathers said.
The Australian Government has mandated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 26–28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, significantly less than the EU Commission’s target of a minimum of 40 per cent and specifically a 35 per cent reduction on trucks alone.
“In order for the government to meet these targets, which in my opinion should be in line with the global community such as the EU Commission, it is impossible unless you can capture braking energy in trucks and buses,” Mr Mathers added.
“Specifically, it has to be applied to all Class 8 trucks and buses as well as all underground and above ground mining machinery where incidences of black lung and other fatal illnesses are on the rise due to high levels of exposure to diesel particulates.”
With the new government now elected, a key priority must remain on reducing Australia’s air pollution, primarily diesel fumes, says Mathers, given the proven immediate and increasing long term health risks facing Australians.
WHO: Air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution deaths and illnesses in Australia are on the rise. In 2005, there were 882 deaths recorded and in 2015 there were 1483 – a 68 per cent increase in ten years. (Source: Australian Academy of Science, World Health Organisation)
At the first WHO conference on air pollution, held in Geneva, Switzerland late last year, the conference called for “the urgent need for bold and prompt action to address this health crisis.”
The conference found that reduction in exposure to air pollution is especially important for protecting the health of children.
Early life exposure is associated with an increased risk for many chronic diseases. Older people and individuals with pre-existing cardiorespiratory conditions and diabetes are at particular risk. And finally, workers exposed to increased levels of air pollution are at high risk, and to be protected by adequate measures.
“Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This is inexcusable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and fulfil their potential,” he said.
The World Medical Association has also echoed this call.
In 2014, Australia was ranked equal 15th in the world for having the highest levels of air pollution, out of 178 countries, with India ranked the highest.
A very concerning recent study in the UK, using data collected from 2232 teenagers in England and Wales, found teens living on polluted roads were about 40 per cent more likely to be psychotic, than those in rural areas. (Source: The Times, Teen psychosis linked to air pollution in cities for first time, March 28 2019).
What action can the Australian government take?
Mr Mathers acknowledges that diesel power is the essential vital source of power for most heavy on and off highway machinery including defence; while stressing that world-leading technology exists currently in Australia to reduce harmful diesel emissions, best used in combination with chemical exhaust cleaning.
This technology is now entering volume production in India to meet the clean air objectives set by the very forward looking Indian Prime Minister Modi which are just below the EU Commission objectives at 33-35% reductions by 2030 for both on and off highway machinery.
Conversely here in Australia however, despite all the evidence cited above, government regulators are yet to apply it.
Mr Mathers said both State and Federal governments need to collaborate to take a leading role in:
- committing to moving away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy,
- supporting world-recognised leading technologies for cleaner road and machinery vehicles,
- enforcing emission reduction targets for industry.
- managing and financially assist and protect vulnerable business areas such as farmers and small contractors reliant on older machinery and road vehicles.
“Australia, at the very least should be committing to reach diesel emission targets set by other governments and bodies around the world such as the EU Commission.”
In Germany, nine cities including Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt have announced a ban of older diesel vehicles from being driven in the city centres because of the proven public health exposure.
India has banned ten year old diesel trucks from its cities. India, via its city pollution is estimated to lose 1.34 million people per year to early death.
The engineer and inventor said, Australia currently uses approximately 17 billion litres in diesel fuel per year.
“By retrofitting and upgrading those commercially used in road transport, mining and construction for instance with diesel reducing technology, the government could reduce this consumption by an estimated 5 billion litres per year,” Mathers said.
“If the government cares about the health of the Australian public – particularly those more at risk such as babies, children, teens, pregnant women and the elderly – immediate action must be taken.”
