Hidden in plain sight: Windshield washer fluid is an unexpected emission source

Date:
May 30, 2023
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Exhaust fumes probably come to mind when considering vehicle
emissions, but they aren't the only source of pollutants released
by a daily commute. Researchers report that alcohols in windshield
washer fluid account for a larger fraction of real-world vehicle
emissions than previous estimates have suggested. Notably,
the levels of these non-fuel- derived gases will likely remain
unchanged, even as more drivers transition from gas-powered to
electric vehicles.


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FULL STORY ========================================================================== Exhaust fumes probably come to mind when considering vehicle emissions,
but they aren't the only source of pollutants released by a daily
commute. In a recent ACS' Environmental Science & Technology study,
researchers report that alcohols in windshield washer fluid account for
a larger fraction of real-world vehicle emissions than previous estimates
have suggested. Notably, the levels of these non-fuel-derived gases will
likely remain unchanged, even as more drivers transition from gas-powered
to electric vehicles.

Cars' average carbon dioxide emissions have dropped by 25% since the
early 2000s, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
but this gas only accounts for part of the total. Another important
component of emissions is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a broad classification of carbon-based molecules that are easily vaporized and
that can contribute to ozone formation.

While some VOCs are released in exhaust, others may arise from an
unexpected source -- the products used for "car care," such as windshield washer fluid.

Estimates from a national inventory of manufacturer statistics in the U.K.

showed that car-care products could be an even greater source of VOCs than exhaust, but these numbers had never been verified experimentally. So,
Samuel Cliff and coworkers decided to measure the amounts of vaporized windshield washer fluid ingredients from cars on a real-world road and
compare it to the inventory estimates.

To measure the VOCs actually emitted by vehicles, the researchers
outfitted a van with several instruments, including a mass spectrometer,
and parked it near a busy roadway. By comparing the van's measurements
with those from a university site with minimal traffic influence,
they calculated the average amount of vapor given off per car for each kilometer traveled for several key VOCs.

The measured values matched inventory estimates for aromatic compounds
that are commonly monitored and regulated, but those for alcohols --
key ingredients in windshield washer fluid -- far exceeded inventory
numbers. In fact, the release of two alcohols, ethanol and methanol, was
nearly twice the amount of all VOCs released in exhaust. The discrepancy
in alcohol emissions could be accounted for by including solvents from
car-care products in the inventory estimations, suggesting that these
products are a significant, if unexpected, source of vehicle-derived pollutants. The researchers say that this finding has implications for
future regulatory policy especially as drivers transition to electric
vehicles, which may have fewer emissions from fuels but will still need
clean windshields.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Matter_&_Energy
# Automotive_and_Transportation # Transportation_Science #
Vehicles # Nature_of_Water
o Earth_&_Climate
# Energy_and_the_Environment # Air_Quality #
Environmental_Policy # Environmental_Science
* RELATED_TERMS
o Flexible-fuel_vehicle o Alternative_fuel_vehicle o
Battery_electric_vehicle o Hybrid_vehicle o Rocket o
Automobile_emissions_control o Drag_(physics) o Fossil_fuel

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Samuel J. Cliff, Alastair C. Lewis, Marvin D. Shaw, James D. Lee,
Michael
Flynn, Stephen J. Andrews, James R. Hopkins, Ruth M. Purvis,
Amber M.

Yeoman. Unreported VOC Emissions from Road Transport Including
from Electric Vehicles. Environmental Science & Technology, 2023;
57 (21): 8026 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00845 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230530125420.htm

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