Large-scale air pollution is a serious issue, and any pollution is unquestionably harmful. However, it is difficult to combat because many of the necessities we use daily pollute the environment. There are preventative measures that, while not eliminating pollution, reduce the amount of pollution produced by motorized machines. Because the Clean Air Act empowers the EPA to regulate air pollution from motor vehicles, we know that cars must pass emission tests and comply with the federal standards. The law prohibits states from regulating automobile emissions to promote uniformity across each state within the USA. A typical passenger vehicle emits roughly 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, even with components in place to reduce pollution from automobiles. This estimates that the average gasoline vehicle on the road today gets a little over 20 miles per gallon and travels roughly 12,000 miles per year. Every car on the road since the mid-1970s is required to have a catalytic converter; this has been the case since 1975. Without catalytic converters, vehicles would emit hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide. These gases are the main contributors to ground-level ozone, which produces smog and is toxic to the environment and us.

Generators, buses, tractors, and even trains all have catalytic converters attached to their exhaust systems, as do almost all internal combustion engines. Because the catalytic converter converts over 90% of the harmful emissions produced by a car engine into less harmful gases, it is an essential component for all internal combustion engines. It’s made up of a metal shell with a ceramic honeycomb-like core with absorbing sections. The narrow wall channels in this honeycomb interior are coated with aluminum oxide. This dense coat increases surface area, allowing for more reactions and contains precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium.

Emission standards apply to marine engines as well. In fact, there has been discussion about requiring catalytic converters on all stern drive boats. “When fully implemented, this rule will be the air pollution equivalent of removing one out of every five cars and trucks on the road”, said Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. Engines with less than 500 horsepower built after January 1, 2010, must meet certain emission requirements, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The regulations also established exhaust emission limits for marine diesel engines used in a wide range of marine vessels, from small recreational boats to large commercial vessels.

EPA has adopted emission standards to control both exhaust and evaporative emissions from small spark-ignition engines. So, whether you’re driving a non-road vehicle, a locomotive, or a ship, there are emissions standards that must be followed to ensure that we all breathe clean air.