Biodiesel concerns

摘要

I am writing to comment on the editorial "Biofuels and the environment" (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006, 40, 4042). In your editorial you mainly discuss the economics of using ethanol and biodiesel from agricultural crops, with the conclusion that with present-day technology, ethanol from corn is not economically feasible. I have no quarrel with that conclusion and think that ethanol in gasoline is without serious public-health effects. However, I do have grave concerns about the suitability of so-called biodiesel (methyl esters of organic fatty acids), mainly from a public-health rather than an economic point of view.