Fed regs will lower levels of sulphur in gas – Could prevent over 2,100 premature deaths

New regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act have been approved, setting a limit of 30 parts-per-million of sulphur content in gasoline starting January 1, 2005. The regulation was scheduled to be published in Canada Gazette, Part II, in June, 1999.

It is estimated that over 20 years, low sulphur gasoline will prevent over 2,100 premature deaths, 93,000 incidences of bronchitis in children, five million other health related incidents such as asthma attacks, and 11 million acute respiratory symptoms such as coughs, pneumonia and croup. In 1998, the average Canadian level of sulphur in gasoline was 350 parts per million (ppm), among the highest in the industrialized world.

Sulphur occurs naturally in petroleum products and causes increased emissions of sulphur dioxide and sulphate particles, both of which contribute to air pollution. Sulphur also decreases the efficiency of emission control systems in vehicles, resulting in higher emissions of other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds.

The new regulations will be phased in. In 2002, sulphur levels in gasoline produced or imported into Canada must meet an average of 150 ppm. The phase-in period will help the refining industry adjust to these new requirements while maintaining the health and environmental benefits of lower sulphur gasoline. It will also provide independent distributors of gasoline with access to competitive sources of supply.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposed rule on May 1, 1999 to reduce sulphur levels in gasoline from current average levels of about 330 ppm to 30 ppm, to be phased in, starting in 2004.

Other Government of Canada initiatives to address clean air include Sulphur in Diesel Regulations, Benzene in Gasoline Regulations, Strategic Options Process for Power Plants, and the proposed Gasoline and Gasoline Blend Dispensing Flow Rate Regulations.

Gas pumping regs will reduce air pollutants

The proposed Gasoline and Gasoline Blend Dispensing Flow Rate Regulations will limit the flow of gasoline to a maximum of 38 litres per minute when refueling vehicles, cutting down on the release of gasoline vapours and limiting the environmental damage associated with spilled gasoline.

Refueling of vehicles releases benzene, a known carcinogen and a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major contributor to the formation of urban smog. These proposed regulations will reduce both pollutants. The Priority Substances List Assessment Report for Benzene (1993) indicates that refueling emissions are responsible for about 6% of the daily intake of benzene by adult Canadians.

Fast flow rates increase both the likelihood of spillage and the amount of fuel vapours released from a vehicle’s fuel tank during refueling. The proposed regulations, in combination with on-board refueling vapour recovery systems being introduced on new Canadian vehicles, will reduce these emissions by 95%.

The proposed regulations will eliminate the spillage of gasoline and gasoline blends by an average of nearly two million litres per year in the 2001 – 2020 period. This reduction in fuel spillage represents an annual decrease of almost 1,500 tonnes of VOCs, including 15 tonnes of benzene, and annual fuel savings to Canadian consumers of about $1 million.