Auto Emissions Controls
Milestones in Federal Laws and Regulations
Air pollution and cars were first linked in the early 1950s by a California researcher who determined that traffic was to blame for the smoggy skies over Los Angeles. At the time, typical new cars were emitting nearly 13 grams per mile hydrocarbons (HC), 3.6 grams per mile nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 87 grams per mile carbon monoxide (CO). Since then, the Federal Government has set standards to bring down levels of these pollutants, and the auto industry has responded by developing new emission control technologies. The current Federal certification standards for exhaust emissions from cars are 0.25 gram per…
