Propane Reduces Air Pollution

When it comes to effects on our air quality, no other fuel can make the same claims as propane:

• When used properly, propane emits virtually no soot and only low emissions of the chemicals that create smog. According to studies by the U.S. Southwest Research Institute, propane exhaust produces 60-70% fewer smog-producing hydrocarbons than gasoline.
• Propane contains no lead, is non-toxic and dissipates quickly if accidentally released into the atmosphere, causing far fewer concerns than other fuels. While propane vapour is heavier than air and can settle in low-lying areas or closed spaces, even a small amount of air movement is enough to disperse the vapours.

While climate change grabs the headlines these days, the dangers of air pollution should not be ignored. Our health and that of our planet is worsened by inefficient and dirty fuel sources that contribute to asthma, cancer, heart disease, acid rain and other serious problems.

Those dangers are more pronounced than ever in the Third World. More than half of the world’s population still burns wood or other biomass for cooking fires, creating dangerous pollutants that contribute to an estimated 1.6 million premature deaths a year. In areas where people have been given the means to switch to propane, those pollutants have been virtually eliminated.

Just as with climate change, propane makes the biggest difference in fighting air pollution when it is used in cars and trucks. Compared to their gasoline-powered equivalents, propane vehicles emit:

• 80% less particulate matter,
• 20-40% less carbon monoxide,
• and about half the toxins and other smog-producing emissions.¹

The difference in the levels of particulate matter (invisible solid particles and liquid droplets) deserves a special note because particulates are probably the most dangerous of all fuel-related pollutants, causing lung problems and cancers. The World Health Organization reported in 2005 that even short-term exposure to particulate matter can lead to inflammatory reactions, respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular trouble and even death.

Outside of the human toll, a 2005 report prepared for the European Commission found that every tonne of particulate matter in the atmosphere costs government health systems up to €180,000. And, of course, air pollution can travel long distances to affect other areas and peoples before finally ending up in our water and ground.

Once again, propane has been proven to reduce these problems in virtually every application you can imagine, from cooking and home heating to power generation and public transportation.

Detailed Information & Research

There is an enormous amount of detailed information and research available, proving how choosing propane reduces air pollution. Follow these links for technical information on the following topics:

Criteria Air Contaminants

Toxic Substances

(If you are looking for technical information about propane, please click HERE for the Material Data Safety Sheet, a type of document created for all chemical products that includes composition, and physical, reactivity and toxicological data.)

Environment Home Page

¹ Source: WLPGA, Greenhouse Gas Emissions from LP Gas Vehicles and Appliances – A Comparison Analysis with Other Energies, 2002