The 263 million gasoline vehicles on American roadways are emitting significantly more harmful emissions than being reported, and the U.S. EPA  is ignoring the dangers of toxic compounds in gasoline, according to a new report released this week.

Simply titled Gasolinegate, the report (and public service announcement video) was produced by Farmers Union Enterprises and according to FUE Chairman Doug Sombke,  it  chronicles three decades of EPA collusion with the industry they are responsible for regulating, which FUE  believes resulted in harming the public they are sworn to protect. Emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act provide a history of what they call inaccurate testing of fuels and calculations of emissions. The result, FUE says, is much greater risk to the public than reported.

Despite dozens of reputable and peer reviewed studies confirming that ultrafine toxic particulates are one of the most serious public health threats in urban areas, and have been linked to pre-term births, IQ loss, and asthma, not enough has been done, according to Sombke. Dieselgate was about the public health impact of 500,000 cars emitting more emissions than the public was told, and the cover up by Volkswagen by using on board computers as a “defeat device”.   Gasolinegate is about 263 million cars and light duty trucks emitting more than reported, particularly more toxic/carcinogenic emissions—for decades.  Ninety percent of urban particulate (PM) emissions come from mobile sources, not power plants, and more than 80 percent of mobile source PM emissions come from gasoline powered vehicles, not diesel. 

 

Farmers Union Enterprises took on this project to dispel the myths and misinformation that has kept clean burning ethanol out of the market, according to Sombke.  “In their relentless effort to block competition, the monopoly of big oil extends to a revolving door policy of the petroleum industry infiltrating EPA, Congress, and other Federal agencies. Our research chronicles a consistent pattern of EPA always siding with the petroleum industry in its rulings and interpretations, failing to recognize Congressional intent and failing to act in the public interest,” said Sombke.

 

“All we are asking is to make gasoline safe for the public and to open the door to alternative fuels that meet a wide range of public policy goals. EPA has the authority and responsibility to protect public health and has to break the stranglehold of big oil to do its job”.

 

Related research and information: Safe Gasoline Public Education and Consumer Awareness Campaign Library/Website