Reduced toxic emissions  |  Eliminating MTBE  |  Clean air solution
Reduced toxic emissions
Gasoline is a complex mixture of dozens of chemicals, many of them toxic. Ethanol adds oxygen to gasoline—improving combustion and reducing toxic exhaust emissions. Adding ethanol to gasoline also dilutes the potency of these toxic chemicals—and greenhouse gas emissions.

Studies have shown that ethanol:

• Reduces tailpipe carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 30 percent
• Reduces exhaust volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions by 12 percent
• Reduces toxic emissions by 30 percent
• Reduces particulate matter (PM) emissions by more than 25 percent

Research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratories shows that ethanol has the ability to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to Argonne, the production and use of 4.9 billion gallons of ethanol in 2006 reduced carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by about 8 million tons. That’s like taking 1.2 million cars off American roadways. To view the report, click here.

The Environmental Protection Agency noted that for every BTU of gasoline replaced by corn ethanol, the total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions that would have been produced from that BTU of gasoline is reduced 21.8 percent. Such emissions account not only for carbon dioxide, but also methane and nitrous oxide. For the EPA Fact Sheet, click here.

For more information on the clean air benefits of ethanol, visit:

• American Lung Association of Illinois
• American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest
• DOE Clean Cities Program

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