Question:

Why are certain components of gasoline being shown many times over?

Answer:

Some chemicals have many different forms or "isomers" [*]. These isomers have the same basic structure but may have bonds in different places and other unique features, which make them different from one another but not enough to knock them out of being in the same chemical "family". There are many isomers of hexene. Without doing extensive testing to determine the exact speciation of the individual hexene type in the gasoline sample, the machine used to analyze the sample can only determine that a "hexene" came out but of what type, we're not sure.

[*] Isomer: any of two or more compounds that have the same molecular formula and thus the same chemical composition but that differ in properties due to different arrangements of the atoms in their molecules. (Macmillan Dictionary)

Question:

What do the assorted ".0", ".P", ".X" mean?

Answer:

.P = PARAFFINS
.O = OLEFINS
.N = NAPHTENES
.A = AROMATICS
.X = OXYGENATES

TOXICITY

ALDEHEYDES

Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, and Acrolein are the more prevalent aldehydes in vehicle exhaust. These three all act as eye, nose, throat and skin irritants, can produce nausea, kidney damage, chronic respiratory disease, inhibit the immune system, and have been shown to be mutagenic or carcinogenic or both. [15, 16, 17, 18]

Aldehydes are typically not a component of gasoline itself. These emissions are a byproduct of inefficient combustion and the "mixing" of the combustion emission products.

The addition of oxygenated compounds, such as ethanol, ethanol and MTBE to gasoline has been shown to somewhat increase the emissions of formaldehyde. [22]

AROMATICS

Benzene, styrene, toluene, and the "o ", "m ", and 'p" xylenes are known to irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain, confusion, insomnia, and euphoria. Benzene is a carcinogen and styrene is mutagen [26, 27].

These few compounds belong to the family of aromatics which constitute a major component of gasoline (typically around 30%).

As a result, aromatic emissions are a significant part of the combustion of gasoline. In addition, aromatics are released by evaporation from the gasoline mix during storage, refuelling and from idle vehicles.

OLEFINS (Alkenes)

1,3 Butadiene, one compound in the family of alkenes, has been found to present a more potent cancer risk than benzene and formaldehyde. [49]

Otherwise, 1,3 Butadiene is a mild irritant to the eyes, nose and throat, causes drowsiness, and light headedness. Butadiene is formed as a result of a reaction of exhaust emissions on the catalyst. [53, 54]

The total of the olefins in raw gasoline is about 1.8% of its composition

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

CO2 is a simple asphyxiant, but can also cause headaches, dizziness, dyspnea (laboured respiration), inconsistent heart rate, coma, convulsions, and asphyxia. [35] It is also recognized as a greenhouse gas (a gas which is recognized as contributing toward climate change around the world). [36]

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

CO can cause headaches, nausea, weakness, dizziness, hallucinations, cyanosis (blood oxygen deficiency), angina, syncope (restriction of blood to brain), and asphyxiation. It's classified as being capable of chemical anoxia (generating hypoxia [oxygen deficiency] to the degree of permanent damage). [38] CO also indirectly adds to the greenhouse effect by interfering with the natural breakdown of methane, a greenhouse gas. [39]

OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOx)

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide results in cumulative lung damage; it is a moderate irritant to the eyes and nose, and can cause coughing, frothy sputum, dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest pain, pulmonary edema, cyanosis, tachypnea, tachycardia (relatively rapid heart action), and eye irritation.

Exposure to nitrous oxide (N2O) - a byproduct of reactive gasses in the atmosphere and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - causes reproductive impairment in males and females. [46]

The United States are the heaviest Nitrogen Oxides polluter in the world, while Canada ranks second.

METHANE

Methane is an asphyxiant if the displaced O2 level is 18% or less by volume. [41]

OZONE

This is a powerful and irritating pollutant that harms human health, agricultural crops, and structural materials. Hospital admissions of acute respiratory diseases including asthma, go up when the concentration of ozone rises above 80 parts per billion.

Researchers believe that ozone is one of the greatest causes of lung disease, together with fine particulate emissions such as vehicle exhausts, wood burning, and smoking.

PROPANE

Propane causes dizziness, disorientation and frostbite. [57]

SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO2)

This is an eye, nose, throat and skin irritant, causes bronchoconstriction, coughing, choking, rhinorrhea, is a mutagen, and is suspect of reproductive effects. [60]

SO2 and N02

Evidence suggests that the presence of the combination of NO2 (Nitrogen) and SO2 may increase the discomfort of people with asthma or bronchitis. [61]

Canada is the heaviest Sulphur Dioxide polluter in the world, while the United States rank second.

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