Journal Article
Toxic Impacts of Emissions from Small 50cc Engine Run under EC47 Driving Cycle: A Comparison between 2-Stroke and 4-Stroke Engines and Lube Oil Quality and Ethanol Additivation
2011-09-11
2011-24-0201
One 4-stroke scooter and two 2-stroke scooters (50 cc bore) were run on dynamic test benches according to the EC47 driving cycle. Emissions from these scooters were continuously monitored, sampled and hot- diluted prior being driven to continuous flow through chambers containing organotypic cultures of lung tissue under bi-phasic Air/liquid culture conditions for three hours. Lung tissue was evaluated for viability (ATP), anti-oxidant defenses (intracellular GSH, Catalase, superoxide-dismutases, glutathione-S-Transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-reductase activity levels) and inflammatory reaction through the measurement of TNFalpha secretion in the culture medium. 4-stroke engine emissions had a moderate impact on lung tissue viability but induced a marked GSH depletion concomitant of increased GPx activity. 2-strokes engine emissions had variable impacts according to after-treatment technology and lube oil quality.
