Motorcycle Exhaust Research Articles

Motorcycle exhaust particles induce airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in BALB/C mice.

A number of large studies have reported that environmental pollutants from fossil fuel combustion can cause deleterious effects to the immune system, resulting in an allergic reaction leading to respiratory tract damage. In this study, we investigated the effect of motorcycle exhaust particles (MEP), a major pollutant in the Taiwan urban area, on airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in laboratory animals. BALB/c mice were instilled intratracheally (i.t.) with 1.2 mg/kg and 12 mg/kg of MEP, which was collected from two-stroke motorcycle engines. The mice were exposed 3 times i.t. with MEP, and various parameters for airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness were sequentially analyzed. We found that MEP would induce airway and pulmonary inflammation characterized by infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung. In addition, MEP treatment enhanced BALF interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) cytokine levels and serum IgE production. Bronchial response measured by unrestrained plethysmography with methacholine challenge showed that MEP treatment induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in BALB/c mice. The chemical components in MEP were further fractionated with organic solvents, and we found that the benzene-extracted fraction exerts a similar biological effect as seen with MEP, including airway inflammation, increased BALF IL-4, serum IgE production, and induction of AHR. In conclusion, we present evidence showing that the filter-trapped particles emitted from the unleaded-gasoline-fueled two-stroke motorcycle engine may induce proinflammatory and proallergic response profiles in the absence of exposure to allergen.

Antiestrogenic effects of motorcycle exhaust particulate in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and immature female rats.

The emissions from 2- and 4-stroke motorcycles pollute the air of urban areas where motorcycle is a popular means of transportation. This study aimed to determine the endocrine-disrupting activity of motorcycle exhaust particulate (MEP) using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and immature female Wistar rats treated with organic extracts of MEP. Treatments with 1, 10, and 50 microg/ml MEP extract for 2 and 4 days produced dose-dependent inhibition of thymidine incorporation and cell growth, respectively, in untreated and 1 nM 17beta-estradiol (E2)-treated cells. Treatments of MCF-7 cells with MEP extract replaced [3H]E2 from the estrogen receptor in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. These antiestrogenic and receptor binding properties of MEP extract were blocked by cotreatment of the cells with 2 microM alpha-naphthoflavone, a cytochrome P450 inhibitor and aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist. E2 metabolism and HPLC analysis showed that treatment of MCF-7 cells with 50 microg/ml MEP extract for 24 h increased E2 2- and 4-hydroxylation in microsomes. The MEP-mediated increase in E2 2-hydroxylation was inhibited by the addition of 1 microM alpha-naphthoflavone to MCF-7 microsomes. Cotreatment of immature female rats with 10 microg/kg E2 and 10 mg/kg MEP extract intraperitoneally for 3 days decreased the E2-induced uterine weights. MEP extract alone showed no effect on rat uterine weight. The endocrine-disrupting activity of MEP extract was further confirmed in parallel experiments using MCF-7 cells and immature female rats treated with benzo(a)pyrene, an MEP constituent compound. The present findings demonstrate that MEP extract is antiestrogenic in vitro and in vivo and cytochrome P450 induction is an underlying mechanism.

Motorcycle exhaust particulates enhance vasoconstriction in organ culture of rat aortas and involve reactive oxygen species.

The effects of motorcycle exhaust particulate on vasoconstriction were determined using rat thoracic aortas under organ culture conditions treated with organic extracts of motorcycle exhaust particulate from a two-stroke engine. The motorcycle exhaust particulate extract (MEPE) induced a concentration-dependent enhancement of vasoconstriction elicited by phenylephrine in the organ cultures of both intact and endothelium-denuded aortas for 18 h. Nifedipine (an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker), manganese acetate (an inorganic Ca2+ channel blocker), and staurosporine (a nonselective protein kinase C inhibitor), but not the selective protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine, inhibited the enhancement of vasoconstriction by MEPE. Staurosporine has also been reported as a myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitor, so we tested whether the MLCK pathway was involved in the effect of MEPE. The results showed that ML-9 (a selective MLCK inhibitor) could inhibit the enhancement of vasoconstriction by MEPE. The phosphorylation of a 20-kDa myosin light chain in a primary culture of rat vascular smooth muscle cells was also enhanced by MEPE. Moreover, we also examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the stimulatory effect of MEPE on vasoconstriction. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine significantly inhibited the enhancement of vasoconstriction by MEPE. A time-dependent increase in ROS production by MEPE was also detected in primary cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells. These results indicate that MEPE induces a marked enhancement of vasoconstriction in aortas under organ culture conditions and imply that a ROS-Ca2+-MLCK pathway may be involved in this MEPE-induced response.

Extract of motorcycle exhaust particles induced macrophages apoptosis by calcium-dependent manner.

Large survey and experiments have reported that environment pollutants from fossil fuel combustion would cause immune system deleterious by enhancement of allergic reaction and damage to respiratory tract. In this study, we reported that the extract of motorcycle exhaust particles (MEP) might affect the immune system by inducing cell apoptosis on macrophages. The motorcycle exhaust particles were collected from a two-stoke engine and their cytotoxic effect on macrophages was investigated. We found MEP is cytotoxic and induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 cells, murine peritoneal macrophage, and rat alveolar macrophage. Pretreatment with mitochondria permeability transition inhibitor (cyclosporin A), intracellular (BAPTA-AM) and extracellular (EGTA) Ca(2+) chelator, and antioxidants (NAC, GSH, catalase, SOD) attenuated the MEP-induced cell apoptosis, and BAPTA-AM was the most effective one. Utilized Fura-2/AM loaded RAW 264.7 cells to directly detect the change of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), we found that MEP could induce a sustained increase of [Ca(2+)](i). The raise of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by MEP could be completely blocked by the intracellular Ca(2+) chelator, BAPTA-AM, however, only partially inhibited by the extracellular Ca(2+) chelator, EGTA. These results suggested that both influx of extracellular Ca(2+) and release of Ca(2+) from the internal storage were involved. We also found that MEP caused a decrease of mitochondria membrane potential and an increase of oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, we found that the particles, collected from the motorcycle exhaust, contain chemicals that will induce apoptosis of macrophage in calcium-dependent manner.

Induction of Cytochromes P-450 1A1 and 1B1 by Motorcycle Exhaust Particulate In Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

The effects of motorcycle exhaust particulate (MEP) on cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases were determined using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells treated with organic extracts of MEP. Treatment with MEP extract produced concentration- and time-dependent increases of monooxygenase activity in S9 fractions. Treatment with 50 µg/ml MEP extract for 24 h increased benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin, 7-ethoxyresorufin, and methoxyresorufin O -dealkylases activities in S9. Treatments with 1 and 10 µg/ml MEP extract for 24 h markedly enhanced catabolism of 17 g -estradiol in MCF-7 cells. Cotreatment of the cells with 2 µM f -naphthoflavone, a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor and arylhydrocarbon receptor antagonist, blocked the increase of benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity induced by treatment with MEP extract alone. Immunoblot analyses of S9 proteins using a mouse monoclonal antibody 1-12-3 against rat cytochrome P-450 1A1 and a rabbit polyclonal antibody against human cytochrome P-450 1B1 revealed that MEP extract induced proteins immunorelated to cytochromes P-450 1A1 and 1B1. RNA blot analysis of total RNA using human cytochrome P-450 (CYP)1A1 3'-end and human CYP1B1 RT-PCR product cDNA probes showed that MEP extract increased the levels of cytochromes P-450 1A1 and 1B1 mRNA hybridizable to the respective cDNA probes. Treatment with 10 µM benzo[a]pyrene, a component of MEP extract, for 24 h induced catalytic activity, protein, and mRNA of cytochromes P-450 1A1 and 1B1 in MCF-7 cells. Treatment with MEP extract increased cytochromes P-450 1A1 and 1B1 proteins and mRNA levels in NCI-H322 human lung carcinoma and CL5 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. The extract also increased cytochrome P-450 1A1, but not cytochrome P-450 1B1, protein, and mRNA, in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. The present findings demonstrate that MEP extract has the ability to induce cytochromes P-450 1A1 and 1B1 in the estrogen-responsive MCF-7 cells. Induction of the carcinogen- and estrogen-metabolizing cytochromes P-450 1A1 and 1B1 may be an important factor to consider in assessing the potential health effects associated with human exposure to MEP.

Single photon ionization (SPI) via incoherent VUV-excimer light: robust and compact time-of-flight mass spectrometer for on-line, real-time process gas analysis.

Fast on-line detection of organic compounds from complex mixtures, such as industrial process gas streams, require selective and sensitive analytical methods. One feasible approach for this purpose is the use of mass spectrometry (MS) with a selective and soft (fragment-free) ionization technique, such as chemical ionization (CI) or photo ionization (PI). Single photon ionization (SPI) with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light is a particularly sof tionization technique, well-suited for detection of both aromatic and aliphatic species. Problematic, however, is the generation of the VUV light. In general, the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light sources for SPI-MS are based either on lasers (e.g., 118-nm radiation generated by frequency-tripling of the third harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser) or on conventional VUV lamps, such as deuterium lamps. Althoughthe laser-based techniques are very sophisticated and expensive, the conventional lamps have serious drawbacks regarding their optical parameters, such as low-output power, low spectral power density, and broad emission bands. In this work, a novel excimer VUV light source, in which an electron beam is used to form rare gas excimer species, is used. The excimer VUV light sourceproduces brilliant and intense VUV light. The novel VUV light source was coupled to a compact and mobile time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). A special interface design, including optical (VUV optics) as well as electronic measures (e.g., pulsed ion extraction) was realized. The use of the excimer VUV lamp for SPI will allow the realization of very compact, rugged, and sensitive SPI-TOFMS devices, which preferably will be adapted for process analytical application or monitoring issues (e.g., chemical warfare detection). The excimer VUV-lamp technology delivers VUV light with a good beam quality and high-output power at low costs. Furthermore, it allows changing the emitted wavelength as well as the bandwidth of the excimer VUV lamp in t he 100-200-nm region by changing the gas filling. Consequently, SPI-TOFMS with an excimer light source is a fast detection technique that can be used for online monitoring, for example, in environmental studies or industrial manufacturing processes. In this paper, technology and characteristics of the new excimer light source, as well as the combination with the TOFMS, are presented. Furthermore, a first characterization of the SPI-TOFMS instrument, regarding analytical parameters such as detection limits and selectivity, is given. This includes a discussion of potential improvements that probably will be achievable within a future prototype genertation. Finally, first applications of the system for on-line measurement of organic trace species in a complex gas mixture (here, motorcycle exhaust gas) are presented.

ALTERATIONS OF MOTOR NERVE FUNCTIONS IN ANIMALS EXPOSED TO MOTORCYCLE EXHAUST

The effect of motorcycle exhaust (ME) on the motor nerve was studied using animals exposed to the exhaust by inhalation, intratracheal, or intraperitoneal administration of ME particulate (MEP). A 4-wk ME inhalation and intratracheal instillation of MEP for 1 d in rats or intraperitoneal administration of MEP (0.5 g/kg/d for 1 d and 0.1 g/kg/d for 2 d) in mice significantly decreased both rota-rod performance and motor nerve conduction velocity. The effect of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the motor nerve was also investigated. Treatment with benzo[a]pyrene (0.05 and 0.1 g/kg/d for 3 d), but not pyrene (0.1 g/kg/d for 3 d), resulted in significant decrease of motor nerve conduction velocity in mice. Moreover, the Na + ,K + -ATPase activities of sciatic nerves isolated from ME-, MEP-, or benzo[a]pyrene-exposed animals were decreased. Treatment with pyrene did not markedly affect the Na + ,K + -ATPase activity of sciatic nerve. The rats exposed to ME for 4 wk showed increases in blood and sciatic nerve manganese levels. Results indicate that motorcycle exhaust produces adverse effects on the motor nerve, which is associated with a fall in nerve Na + ,K + -ATPase activity.

Motorcycle exhaust burns in children

Objectives: To document and describe motorbike exhaust burns on children. Design, Patients and Setting: Departmental database and case note review of all children with motorbike exhaust burns seen at the Stuart Pegg Paediatric Burns Centre, Brisbane between January 1996 and October 2001. Main outcome measures: Number and age of children burned, circumstances of the injury, burns sustained, treatment required and long-term sequelae. Results: Twenty-four children, median age 8 years, sustained thermal burns, most commonly to the right lower leg. Thirteen children required surgery, and 17 required chronic scar management. Conclusions: We have identified motorbike exhausts as a cause of burns in children. The injuries received resulted in significant morbidity to these children and warrants a campaign aimed at reducing the incidence of such injuries.

Influence of benzene emission from motorcycle on Bangkok air quality

This study investigated the influence of benzene concentration from motorcycle exhaust emissions on ambient air quality in Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). Measurement of benzene concentration in exhaust emissions is performed on a standard test driving cycle through which each motorcycle to be tested is driven. The test result revealed that average benzene concentrations in exhaust emission for the test motorcycles ranged from 3.02 to 109.68 mg/m 3. The finding also indicated that two-stroke motorcycles emitted five times more benzene than that of four-stroke motorcycles. Four air monitoring sites were strategically established to determine the relationship between average benzene concentrations with different traffic configurations in each traffic zone of BMR during peak/non-peak hours, day/night times and weekday/weekend. The shape of the curve for benzene level usually shows two peaks corresponding to the morning and evening traffic rush or commuter rush hours. The finding shows that the mean concentrations for benzene in all monitoring stations in the ambient air for peak hours (07:00–09:00 and 16:00–18:00 h) ranged from 15.1 to 42.4 μg/m 3. For non-peak hour (11:30–15:00 h), benzene levels were found in the range 16.3–30.9 μg/m 3. It is observed that higher levels of benzene are found among roadside stations with slow moving traffic while lower levels are found among roadside stations with fast traffic movement. Additional factors such as temperature, wind speed, rainfall, etc. are also considered in this study to determine the relationship between traffic conditions and ambient benzene levels.

Structure and performance of γ-alumina washcoat deposited by plasma spraying

An alumina–titania coating and an alumina composite coating was deposited on a FeCrAl metal support as a washcoat by a plasma spraying technique, and an alumina-dipped coating was prepared for comparison. The microstructures and performances of the coatings were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET), as well as an ultrasonic vibration simulation. The results showed that the combined properties of the alumina composite sprayed coating were comparatively optimized in three kinds of samples. Due to the high-temperature stabilizers of CeO 2, La 2O 3, SiO 2 and ZrO 2, its surface phase was mainly composed of γ-Al 2O 3 with some α-Al 2O 3. With a large number of nanoscale particles stacked on the honeycomb framework, this complex structure provided a firmer cohesive ability between the alumina composite sprayed coating and metal support, as well as a much higher resistance to mechanical vibration and thermal shock than the dipped coating. Moreover, it was supplied with a high geometric specific surface area of 32.1 m 2/g. Thus, it has great possibilities for the alumina composite sprayed coating deposited by plasma spraying to be used directly as a washcoat of metal-supported catalysts on controlling motorcycle exhaust gas emission.

INDUCTION OF CYTOCHROME P-450 1A1 IN HUMAN HEPATOMA HepG2 AND LUNG CARCINOMA NCI-H322 CELLS BY MOTORCYCLE EXHAUST PARTICULATE

The effects of motorcycle exhaust particulate (MEP) on human cytochrome P-450 (P-450)-dependent monooxygenases were determined using human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and lung carcinoma cell line NCI-H322 treated with organic extracts of MEP from a two-stroke engine. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis of MEP extract revealed the presence of carcinogens benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, chrysene, and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene in the chemical mixture. Treatment with MEP extract produced concentration- and time-dependent increases of monooxygenase activity in HepG2 cells. Treatment of the cells with 100 µg/ml MEP extract for 24 h markedly increased benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation, 7-ethoxycoumarin, and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activities in microsomes. Immunoblot analysis of microsomal proteins using mouse monoclonal antibody 1-12-3 against P-450 1A1 revealed that MEP extract induced a P-450-immunorelated protein in the hepatoma cells. RNA blot analysis of cellular total RNA using a human P-450 1A1 3?-end cDNA probe showed that MEP extract increased the level of a hybridizable P-450 mRNA. These P-450 1A1 inductive effects of MEP extract were similar to those from treatment with 10 µM benzo[a]pyrene or 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) in HepG2 cells. Treatment of lung carcinoma NCI-H322 cells with 100 µg/ml MEP extract, 10 µM benzo[a]pyrene, or 3-MC resulted in induction of monooxygenase activity, protein, and mRNA of P-450 1A1, similar to the induction observed with the hepatoma cells. The present study demonstrates that MEP extract has the ability to induce human hepatic and pulmonary P-450 1A1 in the liver- and lung-derived cell lines, and the induction involves a pretranslational mechanism. Induction of the human hepatic and pulmonary P-450 1A1 in vitro may provide important information in the assessment of MEP metabolism and toxicity in humans.

INHIBITION OF AGONIST-INDUCED VASOCONTRACTION AND IMPAIRMENT OF ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT VASORELAXATION BY EXTRACT OF MOTORCYCLE EXHAUST PARTICLES IN VITRO

The in vitro effects of motorcycle exhaust particulate extract (MEPE) on blood vessels were studied in thoracic aorta isolated from Wistar rat. The MEPE relaxed the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta with an EC50 value of 0.05 +/- 0.004 mg/ ml. This relaxing effect of MEPE persisted in endothelium-denuded aorta, suggesting that the relaxation induced by MEPE is endothelium-independent. The phenylephrine-induced vasocontraction and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate formation were inhibited concentration dependently in aorta pretreated with MEPE. However, the high-K+-induced vasocontraction and the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile proteins were not significantly affected by MEPE. In addition to the inhibitory effects on agonist-induced contraction, the vasorelaxing effects both of acetylcholine and of sodium nitroprusside were impaired by MEPE. The inhibitory effects of MEPE on acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, but not phenylephrine, were reversed by cotreatment with superoxide dismutase. These results showed that the MEPE, added in vitro, inhibited the phenylephrine-induced, but not depolarization-induced, vasocontraction of aorta. The MEPE also impaired the vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine in a superoxide anion-dependent manner.

EFFECTS OF MOTORCYCLE EXHAUST ON CYTOCHROME P-450-DEPENDENT MONOOXYGENASES AND GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE IN RAT TISSUES

The effects of motorcycle exhaust (ME) on cytochrome P-450 (P-450) -dependent monooxygenases were determined using rats exposed to the exhaust by either inhalation, intratracheal, or intraperitoneal administration. A 4-wk ME inhalation significantly increased benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities in liver, kidney, and lung microsomes. Intratracheal instillation of organic extracts of ME particulate (MEP) caused a dose- and time-dependent significant increase of monooxygenase activity. Intratracheal treatment with 0.1 g MEP extract/ kg markedly elevated benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation and 7- ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activities in the rat tissues 24 h following treatment. Intraperitoneal treatment with 0.5 g MEP extract/ kg/d for 4d resulted in significant increases of P-450 and cytochrome b contents and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase 5 activity in liver microsomes. The intraperitoneal treatment also markedly increased monooxygenases activities toward methoxyresorufin, aniline, benzphetamine, and erythromycin in liver and benzo[a]pyrene and 7-ethoxyresorufin in liver, kidney, and lung. Immunoblotting analyses of microsomal proteins using a mouse monoclonal antibody (Mab) 1-12-3 against rat P-450 1A1 revealed that ME inhalation, MEP intratracheal, or MEP intraperitoneal treatment increased a P-450 1A protein in the hepatic and extrahepatic tissues. Protein blots analyzed using antibodies to P-450 enzymes showed that MEP intraperitoneal treatment caused increases of P-450 2B, 2E, and 3A subfamily proteins in the liver. The ME inhalation, MEP intratracheal, or MEP intraperitoneal treatment resulted in significant increases in glutathione S -transferase activity in liver cytosols. The present study shows that ME and MEP extract contain substances that can induce multiple forms of P-450 and glutathione S-transferase activity in the rat.

Involvement of oxidative stress in motorcycle exhaust particle-induced DNA damage and inhibition of intercellular communication

In this study, we investigated the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the motorcycle exhaust particle (MEP)-induced genotoxic and non-genotoxic activity in mammalian cell systems. Initially, the capability of MEP to induce ROS was evaluated by using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) to detect hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2). A five-fold increase in H 2O 2 was observed in Chinese hamster lung V79 and human lung carcinoma Calu-1 cells treated with 100 μg/ml MEP for 2 h. Under the same experimental conditions, only a two-fold elevation in H 2O 2 was detected in hepatic cell systems such as BNL.Cl.2, HepG2, and Hep3B. Treatment of the V79 cells with varying concentrations of MEP caused a dose-dependent increase in sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), which are effectively inhibited by addition of antioxidants, N-acetyl- l-cysteine (NAC) and ascorbic acid. Furthermore, we determined the oxidized bases in the V79 cells after exposure to MEP. The result showed that 500 μg/ml MEP induced a 3.7-fold increase in thymine glycol (TG) and a seven-fold increase in 8-hydroxy-guanosine (8-OHGua) as compared to untreated cells. We subsequently examined whether MEP would affect gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), a tumor promotion process, in V79 cells. We found that MEP inhibited GJIC in a dose–response fashion. Maximal inhibition occurred at 500 μg/ml. The concentration that inhibited at 0.5 of the fraction of the control was 200 μg/ml. Interestingly, when cells were pretreated with NAC or ascorbic acid, they could abolish the MEP-mediated inhibition of GJIC. In addition, a moderate decrease of glutathione was observed in the V79 cells during exposure to MEP. Taken together, our findings suggest that MEP can induce oxidative stress in a broad range of cell lines, especially in lung cell systems. The MEP-induced oxidative stress was critically involved in both genotoxic and non-genotoxic activity.

Analysis of C1-C16 Hydrocarbons Using Dual-Column Capillary GC: Application to Exhaust Emissions from Passenger Car and Motorcycle Engines

A method for the quantitative analysis of individual hydrocarbons in the C1-C16 range emitted in engine exhaust gases is described. A dual-column capillary gas chromatograph is used, which provides analysis of C1-C9 species on a porous-layer open-tubular alumina column and analysis of C8-C16 species on a CP-SIL 8 column. Some typical results are presented from the analysis of gasoline, diesel, and 2-stroke motorcycle exhaust. However, the main purpose of the paper is to discuss practical issues related to the analysis of exhaust gases by capillary gas chromatography, including methods of calibration, coelutions, sensitivity, long-term repeatability, and range of applicability.

Remote Measurement of Motorcycle Exhaust Using Fourier Transform Infrared System

Abstract We have explored the basic theory and quantitative methods for the measurement of motorcycle exhaust using a Fourier transform infrared interferometer system. Remote sensing direct measurements were made and the species carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nonmethane paraffinic carbon(CHx) and unburned additional harmful species in motorcycle exhaust were determined. Typical concentrations observed in absorption for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nonmethane paraffinic carbon were about 1.11%, 1.91%, 0.54% respectively. Furthemore, this paper describes the remote sensing Fourier transform infrared spectrometer system. The system covers the infrared spectral region from 700 to 6000 cin−1 at a maxim resolution of 0.06 cm−1 for beamsplitter of gerrniuiirun coated zinc selenide and receiver telescope with zinc selriide leis. For air multipollutant monitoring the analytica1 methods have the potential and become important. The remote measurements usirig the Fourier transform inf raid spectroscopy could...

Simulated motorcycle exhaust pipe and engine sound device for bicycles

A simulated motorcycle exhaust pipe and engine sound device for bicycles including a hollow member which can be outwardly flared from a front end to an open end. This construction simulates, in appearance, an exhaust pipe. A removable spoke engaging member is engaged with the hollow member. When the device is mounted on a bicycle, the spoke engaging member extends between spokes of the bicycle wheel. Means for removably mounting the device to a bike frame are provided. As the bicycle wheel rotates, the spoke engaging member successively engages with the spokes of the bicycle causing the spoke engaging member to vibrate. These vibrations resonate through the hollow member to produce a realistic combustion engine sound.

Vibration isolating pipe

First Page

Motorcycle noise control through use of a stationary sound level test

New motorcycles have gotten significantly quieter throughout the 1970's. Motorcycle noise control is now a problem of keeping the quiet motorcycles quiet. This problem involves control of both after-market motorcycle exhaust systems and user modifications of stock exhaust systems. Various stationary sound level tests have been suggested as a means of ensuring that motorcycle exhaust systems are quiet when built, and remain quiet in use. Sophisticated test methods have been proposed, but suffer because of their complexity; simpler tests, however, have lower correlation than the complex test methods. A new approach to the use of simple stationary sound level tests was evaluated, and produced promising results.

Preventing motor vehicle related burns

Results of the 1974–1975 Upstate New York Survey of Hospitalized Burns identify motor vehicle related burns as an important contributor to burn morbidity (8.4% of the total number of hospitalized burn injuries). Males are at high risk compared to females, and the age group 15–24 years is at high risk compared to the population as a whole. Extent of injury and type of burn for the various vehicle categories are considered. Scalds from radiator boil-overs, flame burns from vehicle repair work and traffic accidents, contact burns from motorcycle exhaust components, and burns from fires and explosions on boats are identified as important injury situations. Potential prevention strategies based on these injury situations are discussed.