I. New cars fail a regulatory test called lambda

New cars fail a regulatory test called lambda. Automobile companies oppose introducing this in Delhi and other cities

The Central government has asked states to introduce a new test called lambda measure to check pollution from vehicles on the road -- but has said it is optional and the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has been working to introduce it in Delhi to begin with by May 15, 2005. The Lambda test done as part of the pollution under control programme for vehicles with 3-way catalytic converters, is critical to ensure low emissions. The rest of the industrialised world has been using it for 12 years and all car companies that produce the same vehicles abroad, adhere to it. But the EPCA's move is still finding opposition from the auto industry in India.

The tests done at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have found that out of the 23 vehicles tested, 9 failed on the lambda test. It is not surprising that global giants like General Motors, who proclaim across the world that the Lambda test "ensures the highest degree of effectiveness of the catalytic converter and at the same time lowest exhaust emissions", are not willing to introduce it in India because -- they claim -- they haven't been asked to till now! At the same time, they say their products meet global standards.

Resource people for and against are:

a. K K Gandhi, executive director (technical), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM),
New Delhi, Ph: 011-24647810-12, 24648555, E-mail: kkgandhi@siamindia.com

b. Anumita Roychoudhury or Chirag Shah, Right to Clean Air Campaign, CSE,
Ph: 011-20055124, 29955125, E-mail: anumita@cseindia.org, chirag@cseindia.org

Appeared in Media Alert 3, February 14, 2005

II. Oil industry imposes a voluntary ban on a deadly chemical

National oil companies have volunteered to stop using MMT - methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl - which is added to petrol to boost octane levels. CSE had drawn the attention of the Union petroleum minister to the use of this neurotoxic chemical. This is the first time that Indian oil companies have voluntarily stopped using a harmful substance following strong public concern.

Reports from scientific organisations and journals bear out the severe health impacts of manganese: fine particles laden with manganese oxides can readily dissolve in the blood and travel to the brain, leading to symptoms of manganese neurotoxicity that are similar to those of Parkinson's disease. MMT also destroys the spark plugs and emission control systems in vehicles; global auto majors warn against using petrol containing MMT in their cars.

After this step forward, India now needs a comprehensive fuel additive policy which will force producers and sellers of such chemicals to provide evidence that these are harmless.

For more information on this, you can get in touch with:

a. Anumita Roychoudhury or Chirag Shah of Right to Clean Air Campaign, CSE,
New Delhi; Ph 011-29955124, 29956110, E-mails anumita@cseindia.org, chirag@cseindia.org

b. R K Malhotra, general manager, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Faridabad;
Ph 95129-2283710; expert on fuel science and the petroleum industry

c. B Sengupta, member-secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
New Delhi; Ph 011-22301720, 22305792, E-mail cpcb@alpha.nic.in

Appeared in Media Alert 7, September 20, 2005