Contributions of gasoline and diesel vehicles to air pollution

摘要

Unburned hydrocarbons emitted from gasoline and diesel vehicles contribute to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), tiny particles that can harm human health, reduce visibility, and impact climate. But the relative importance of gasoline and diesel sources for SOA formation remains unclear. Drew Gentner et al. (pp. 18318-18323) characterized and quantified the hydrocarbons present in samples of gasoline and diesel fuel from California, and determined the SOA formation potential of diesel exhaust, gasoline exhaust, and nontailpipe gasoline emissions.