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Study links deterioration of concrete and asphalt to trace quantities of organic matter; diesel exhaust, windshield washer fluids

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A team of scientists from six institutions, including Akihiro Moriyoshi, Emeritus Professor Hokkaido University, have found that the presence of Trace Quantities of Organic Matter (TQOM) in modern concrete structures and asphalt pavements drive the deterioration of these structures. CT scans showing cracks in damaged concrete.

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Study links exposure to diesel exhaust particles to pneumococcal disease susceptibility

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Researchers from the University of Liverpool, Queen Mary University, London and Trinity College Dublin have linked exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) to susceptibility to pneumococcal disease. What we did not know however, was how pollution, such as diesel exhaust particles, actually causes airway disease.

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UK researchers report that alcohols in windshield washer fluid are major unreported source of VOCs emissions from cars, including EVs

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In a recent open-access paper published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology , researchers from the University of York report that alcohols in windshield washer fluid account for a larger fraction of real-world vehicle emissions than previous estimates have suggested. Cliff et al.

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Chalmers study finds ship exhaust gas scrubbers responsible for up to 9% of certain hazardous emissions into Baltic Sea

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New research from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, finds that the discharge water from ships’ exhaust gas treatment systems—i.e., A scrubber is used on ships to clean exhaust gases, primarily to reduce emissions of sulfur oxides to the atmosphere.

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Researchers developing free-piston linear generator for exhaust waste heat recovery

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Researchers in China have developed a novel free-piston linear generator (FPLG) to recover exhaust waste heat efficiently from a vehicle engine. The FPLG can be used in a small-scale organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system and can directly convert the thermodynamic energy of working fluid into electricity. —Tian et al. Prototype FPLG.

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Auburn University leads $2M DOE Co-Optima project to evaluate renewable butyl acetate as diesel fuel additive

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Auburn University researchers are leading a $2-million US Department of Energy Co-Optima project ( earlier post ) that will evaluate renewable butyl acetate (BA) as a bio-based fuel additive that can be blended with diesel fuel to reduce soot and greenhouse gas emissions and yield cleaner engine operation in cold-weather conditions.

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Researchers show mechanism by which diesel exhaust particles trigger respiratory “flare-ups”

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Researchers at Imperial College London, working with colleagues from King’s College London and University of British Columbia, have demonstrated a mechanism by which diesel exhaust particles directly affect the lungs to initiate symptoms such as a tightening of the airways and cough.

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