Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 1

Written Answers. - Motor Vehicle Emissions.

Ivor Callely

Question:

71 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress and research, if any, on the use of unleaded petrol with a benzene content and its carcinogenic properties; the effect of these fumes discharged into the atmosphere, particularly on the public that may be susceptible to cancer growths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23411/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 121 of 30 April 1998 and 250 of 16 June 1998.

As part of the recently agreed EU Auto Oil Programme, Directive 98/70/EC sets new environmental specifications for unleaded petrol to apply from 1 January, 2000, including a maximum permissible benzene content of 1 per cent by volume, which is five times lower than the current maximum permissible content. Current vehicle emission control technologies such as catalytic convertors reduce benzene in exhaust emissions; a further directive under the Auto Oil Programme, Directive 98/69/EC, requires more stringent vehicle emission standards to apply from 1 January 2000 onwards, and these will further reduce hydrocarbon, including benzene, emissions.

The European Commission is currently preparing a subsidiary directive under the framework directive on ambient air quality assessment and management (Directive 96/62/EC), which will set, for the first time, an ambient air quality standard for benzene, to be based,inter alia, on considerations related to the current assessment of the health risks posed by this pollutant.