Result of ICE exhaust

[veloman]

Here's my verdict, a conclusion that I came to after a a few months of close observation:

The morning following a car drive or bike ride in moderate to heavy traffic - my spit has a brown tint.

Do you want to take a guess what that is from? ICE (internal combustion engine) exhaust.

I am going to be changing where I live to a low populated area because of this.

The only other option is to wear an air tank or a mask that filters out all those particulates while on the roads.


This is the reality of our oil dependent society. It's not worth it in my opinion. Who knows what health risks we face as a result.

 

[AmpEater]

This is one of those "ignorance is bliss" things

I never used to think about breathing exhaust. Used to walk 10 miles a day. But then I learned how readily you absorb inhaled vapor, how the black smoke coming out of a diesel truck is ultra fine suspended particulate, how to smell the difference between a carb running lean or rich, and then the understanding that the "rich" smell is unburned petroleum entering your body, diffusing into your blood. Etc, etc, etc.

Now I think about exhaust a lot. I hate exhaust.

I love my exhaust-less riding mower however. Always loved mowing the lawn, hated the smell. So I took off the bits I didn't like

Ya know...I actually take it as an act of violence against me when some redneck in a giant diesel pickup floors it and sends up a huge plume of black smoke in front of me. Like, if I were to "return the favor" with an equivalent gesture it would involve a punch to the face. It's an offensive gesture on a few levels, in my mind

 

[veloman]

Amp,

I couldn't agree more.


"I have a dream....."

I think you have an idea of how to finish that one...


Over the last year I've become sooo aware of exhaust in my path. I'm at the point right now where I try to hold my breath until the wind clears the exhaust away. I do all I can to avoid busy roads. I even take into account wind direction (from my right helps a LOT), speed of traffic, traffic accelerating, uphills, I even make it a point to sprint off the line from a green light as to get a few hundred feet up the road, keeping the cars that are behind me from passing me for as long as possible (and so that when they do pass me - it's when they are already up to speed and getting better gas mileage.) I even sometimes will cut off the road onto a side street to take a 'breather' if I'm on a hill and get passed by large vehicles spewing exhaust at me.

 

[dogman dan]

Some of the brown tint is dirt, combined with finely ground road asphalt. Another fine thing to be ingesting. So even if it was all EV's, you'd still be breathing road dust when they go by and stir it up. Of course, in rainy places this may be less of a problem.

 

[veloman]

Some of the brown tint is dirt, combined with finely ground road asphalt. Another fine thing to be ingesting. So even if it was all EV's, you'd still be breathing road dust when they go by and stir it up. Of course, in rainy places this may be less of a problem.

Interesting. But it rained a lot before and during my ride yesterday.

But it doesn't change the fact that I know I am breathing in exhaust when I can smell it after a ICE car passes.

 

[Matthijs]

Great thread! I was thinking to myself I must be the only person who holds his breath at times when exhaust gases hit my throat. Do not forget people who "ride the brake". Brake dust from lead containing pads are also a major source of micro-dust. And car tires as well. Making a burnout? Or accelerate or brake heavily? It should be illegal! Knowing how inefficient an automobile is I really hate drivers who on top of that drive inefficient. In Holland where I live I am blessed with great bicycle infrastructure. But most bike pads are still along motorways. This means still breathing in exhaust. Study shows that bicycle riders inhale 6x (Six) times more micro-dust than people taking the car for the same route! But they claim that cycling is overall more healthy. :? And Europe loves Diesel cars. I do not, I hate Diesel. Especially buses. If one drives by on the bus lanes in the city you just feel like you die a little bit.

But what is even worse?! Scooters and mopeds! They drive right under your nose in the city. Even when you walk on the sidewalk. I live beside a bike path, (My street is a bike path in fact) And sometimes I can even smell the exhaust in my home. 2 stroke without any kind of emission regulation devices on them. And no one is doing something about it!

Sometimes I feel like I live in prehistoric times. When it was allowed to freely poison other people who did not ask about inhaling poisonous gases.

I think it's a smart idea to invest in protection from all this bad stuff.

 

[veloman]

When I woke up this morning, I spit - clear. Yesterday I only did 1 mile to the store and back with only a few cars passing me. Didn't drive the car.

I despise diesels as well. There's a lot of them big DIEsels here in TX....all those country boys driving them around, 95% of the time not hauling or towing anything other than themselves and maybe one passenger. They lay on the accelerator when passing you, destroying any hope of breathing clean air. Even gas cars - they amaze me at how much exhaust they push out. I had 3 cars pass me slowly on a flat road - probably around 30mph, not accelerating. Yet I was still 'covered' in exhaust for about 20 seconds.


I think I'm going to seriously start looking into an air tank or some sort of filtration system to wear when riding. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I rather look goofy than breath that crap in.

What a world we live in - even here in modern USA....

 

[veloman]

I'm buying this, glad to see there is a product out there that is trying to address this issue.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7327



I actually just bought the Respro Techno mask on amazon, with 2 replacement filters - $71 total shipped - not bad considering it should keep me from breathing in much of the crap out there on the roads.

 

[AmpEater]

Activated carbon is widely used for filtering stuff out of air. I have plans to install big carbon filters in all of my enclosed EVs for cabin air. There would be no exhaust inside the cabin. Luxury cars generally have a stage of activated carbon as part of the air system.

A quick look at that mask shows, surprise surpise, activated carbon (charcoal). You can also do the same thing with actived coconut husks.

You could rig up a cylindrical filter about the size of a water bottle, along with a small fan and have it push filtered air to a mask. Like a jet fighter mask It wouldn't add any extra effort like the reviews say breathing through the mask does.

It would solve your problem, last for a year+, and make a pretty big statement about air quality.

 

[veloman]

Cool idea... maybe I'll look into it if I have trouble breathing. Although I plan to mostly use this mask when I am commuting - and therefore not pushing myself too hard - especially thanks to my electrics!!

I'm so happy I found this mask, it may be a significant factor in allowing me to live in/near the city. The # 1 reason I wanted to move out of here is due to worrying about air pollution when I ride.

 

[Matthijs]

Wow that is a great looking mask! I was preparing to look like a painter on a bike lol. But this stuff makes it even look good. Also having an aquarium where I use active carbon as a filter medium I know it is used to filter stuff. It is possible to make it yourself but it is pretty time consuming.

Great find thanks!

Edit: Now to find a way to make some diy filters so you can replace the coal yourself. Those filters are pretty expensive. (Not as expensive as your health off course)

Edit2: I see that this company is located in the UK. Well I think those masks are going to sell well there: London's air pollution worst is Europe, so city faces stiff fines from EU I remember being in London in 1996 I saw bikers already wearing masks.

 

[veloman]

Yeah, I notice the UK thing too. As the guy above said they like diesels there...

I read the FAQ on the company's website and it said the filters should be good for 69 hours of use in moderate - heavily polluted areas. At 5 hours a week - that's about 3 months for a $13 filter (2 pack cost $26 shipped). Pretty damn cheap for a health protection!

I can't wait to wear mine in traffic. I hope it doesn't let me down. I'd love to take the fast, direct, efficient roads (which have the most cars), and not have to breath that pollution in.

 

[hydro-one]

I despise exhuast. This drove me to buy the respro at MEC. Tends to sweat up alot with regular cycling. But works really great!!! untill its soggy. Then the particulate filter still works ok, but the charcoal is saturated with water.

I am looking into a carbon canister, with fan pushing fresh air over my face. This would be inside a full face helmet. I have some activated coconut carbon granular that is made for air filtration. A small ducted fan , and im in business!!! This could also have its own pack in the helmet.

mabye air coditioning with a peltier? Might be worth it some days.....

mike



we live in a backwards world.......

 

[amberwolf]

My sister in Washington state has used one of those (she's got allergies to a lot of things up there) and it helps tremendously, and isn't as confining or suffocating-feeling to her as other masks because of the exhaust vents. She's talked of sending me one but hasn't done it yet. After so many years of riding in traffic, I'm not sure it would make much difference anymore. :lol: :hack: :cough: :choke:

 

[deronmoped]

"The World Health Organization states that 2.4 million people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution, with 1.5 million of these deaths attributable to indoor air pollution".

Not all pollution is man made. Quite a bit comes from natural sources, volcano's, wild fires, dust, radon gas, sea spray...

"Sea spray has been detected in the middle of the United States, some 900 miles (1,400 kilometers) from any ocean, a new study says.

Scientists discovered chlorine—a key element in sodium chloride, or the type of salt found in seawater—in Boulder, Colorado's (see map) mountain air".

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100310-sea-spray-ocean-colorado-pollution/

The sad fact is, even if humans never set foot on this planet there would still be tons of air pollutants. But the good thing is, they have found that a person that is physically active has a better chance of having the ability to not be adversely effected by air pollution.

Deron.

 

[deronmoped]

Here is something else to chew on.

Here in San Diego and other regions where the government is rationing water they have put restrictions on hosing things down.

When I was growing up, you used the garden hose to wash everything down. Driveway, sidewalks, street, gutter, house... Now everything is no longer washed down the storm drain till the first rains which can be as much as six months away. What does this do, it leaves all the find particulates on the ground to be kicked up by passing cars, be blown around by the gardener and his blower, swept around by people that sweep things, blown around by the winds and breezes...

Living in a city that limits water use contributes greatly to air pollution.

Deron.

 

[TPA]

There's a lot of them big DIEsels here in TX....

You think when someone posts from the same state that you are in that you might have an ebike neighbor...but this is Texas. :wink:

Where abouts in Texas?

 

[veloman]

Austin.... It's the only place in TX I'd live in, haha. Great bike culture here, bikes are very popular. I've been trying to help improve the roads here for cycling use, there is much to be done. Outside of the city it's a deathtrap - those 60mph TX roads with no shoulders. Makes me miss CT, where I could bike to NY/MA/RI and not fear for my life.

You?

 

[will_newton]

I have often thought that we would solve a lot of vehicle pollution problems by requiring the exhaust emissions to have color. Often times, you see a car driving down the road, smoking up the place, polluting, being noxious, etc. and you get all self-righteous and indignant. How dare that person pollute my air!!!! :x

---guess what dumbass! That is coming out of your car too, you just can't see it!

I'd bet within a week of starting the colored exhaust gases program we'd have an entire nation of folks suddenly very concerned.

some more exhaust gas is gonna kill you stuff-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medical_notes/336738.stm

 

[hydro-one]

I have thought of making a commercial like that !! With a color on all the exhaust streams. mabye sick yellow/brown puke, toxic green etc. Im winter here some days you can see it quite clearly. plus it all hangs around because of the frigid cold.

Deron, come on , quite trying to water down the issue. This IS a seroius health concern. CANCER ever heard of it? Comparing it to salt, eg chloride, in the air? thats harmless. water rationing causes air pollution yeah sure
simple propaganda if you read that somewhere.

 

[TPA]

You?

Beaumont, 243 miles from Austin, this is what I mean by no neighbors in Texas... and I brave the shoulderless roads and traffic.

 

[Zoot Katz]

http://news.discovery.com/human/despite-the-risks-urban-cycling-a-healthier-option.html

The authors found that for the individuals who shift from car to bicycle, the benefits gained by increased physical activity were substantially larger (3 - 14 months of life gained) than the drawbacks of inhaled air pollution (0.8 - 40 days lost) and the increase in traffic accidents (5 – 9 days lost).
From a study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives

Do The Health Benefits Of Cycling Outweigh The Risks?

 

[Lock]

Just wish to add the other airborne by-products to the mix...

From here:
http://electric-vehicle-discussion-...way-Battery-Rust-Issue-tp1563949p1573096.html

Do not underestimate the reach of road salt in rust belt states.

About 20 years ago I was a Nature Conservancy volunteer keeping prairie remnants healthy in Northern Illinois. We were interested in the impact
of road salt on the prairie plants, which were frequently close to the highway. IDOT, or somebody, came up with some money and had it studied.

It turned out that road salt was extremely mobile, because the traffic drove spray into the air an then blew salt dust all over once the
pavement had dried. A two-lane highway could contaminate the ground with salt for over 1000 feet, and the Interstate could salinate the
surrounding ground up to 3/4 of a mile from the roadway.

The Health Effects Institute has been generating reports for years about watt is in roadside dust coming from brake linings and tires wearing out:
http://www.healtheffects.org/

Tks
lOcK

 

[Lock]

http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2010PressReleases/100614legionellascreenwash/
Legionnaires’ disease
14 June 2010

A preliminary HPA study, published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, has found an association between not using screen wash in wiper fluid and the risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease.

More information:

Legionnaires' disease, caused by the legionella bacteria, is commonly linked to water systems such as air conditioning units, showers and fountains, where water is given off in a fine spray.

The case control study looked into the potential risk factors for drivers and passengers, given that most cases of sporadic, or isolated, Legionnaires' disease are rarely traced to a source, and that drivers figure disproportionately among cases of sporadic Legionella infection.

Researchers for the study interviewed 75 patients in England and Wales who had recovered from community acquired Legionnaires' disease between July 2008 and March 2009, comparing them to a group of matched people who had not experienced any similar infection.

The study found two exposures associated with vehicle use where there was an increased risk of Legionnaires' disease: driving through industrial areas and driving or being a passenger in a vehicle without screenwash in its wiper fluid. These associations had not been previously identified.

Further studies are now required to further explore this finding, and to determine whether the use of screen wash in wiper fluid could play a role in preventing this disease. The HPA is exploring ways of taking this forward with partner organisations.

 

[hydro-one]

wtf is screenwash? sounds like mrketing oil company shiet