Gasohol toxic link floated

In the carbonyl group are formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone, among others.

"The levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde on some roads have been much higher than the safe level prescribed by the US Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment," ERTC researcher Daisy Morknoy said at a seminar yesterday.

She was speaking about the findings of research conducted between 2006 and 2008.

The research covered air samples from 49 roads in Bangkok.

According to Daisy, motorists are now consuming five million litres of gasohol every day. Due to incomplete combustion, gasoholdriven vehicles have emitted toxic gasses on roads.

Thai government has promoted the use of gasohol since 2006, making its selling price significantly lower than diesel oil and benzene.

Pollution Control Department directorgeneral Supat Wangwongwattana said he had already asked the energy and transport ministries to check the engines of vehicles using natural gas.

"Most people believe naturalgas vehicles cause less pollution but our random checks find otherwise," Supat said, "So we think there are some problems about engine installations".

He said a carbonmonoxide threat had returned to Bangkok since 2007 despite a brief break during 2005 and 2006.

Supat added that dust particles smaller than 10 microns had also continued to hurt air quality in many areas, including those around Din Daeng, Rama VI, Yaowaraj and Sukhumvit roads.