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What Is Nitrogen Oxide and Why Is It Damaging?
If you drive a diesel car, you are producing nitrogen oxide every time you travel, no matter how long or short the distance. This can have some very damaging impacts on the environment. Aside from this though, it can also be a problem when it comes to the health of you and those around you. To protect your loved ones, make sure to read on to find out more about nitrogen oxide and what you can do to reduce its negative impacts.
What is Nitrogen Oxide?
The nitrogen oxide formula, NOx, is part of a group of gases that are highly reactive, referred to as oxides of nitrogen. The oxide is entirely colourless but does have a scent. They are part of what contributes to photochemical smog and create smog of a yellow-brown colour. It is a gas that is both acidic and highly corrosive.
How is Nitrogen Oxide Formed in Diesel Engines?
Nitrogen oxide is created inside diesel engines, and it occurs as a result of combustion. The diesel fuels start to burn and as it does, the temperature rises. This heat is what triggers the nitrogen to break apart from the oxygen molecules that are in the air. This results in higher reactivity atoms that recombine to form nitrogen oxide.
Exposure Effects on Health and the Environment
There are both environmental and health issues that come with nitrogen oxide. For your personal health, even when exposed to low levels of nitrogen oxide, you can experience symptoms such as irritation in your nose, eyes, throat and lungs. This means a cough or shortness of breath and nausea. It can also lead to a build-up of fluid in your lungs as a result of only a few days of exposure. Higher levels of exposure can lead to more severe impacts including spasms, and swelling of tissue and it can even be fatal in more severe circumstances.
In terms of environmental impact, nitrogen oxide contributes to creating smog as well as acid rain and even has an impact on the tropospheric ozone. Nitrogen oxide pollution has a serious impact. Some of the more immediate impacts include damage to vegetation and foliage, meaning that crop yields are reduced.
Reducing effects of Nitrogen Oxide
As a diesel engine owner, there are a few things you can do to help reduce these effects. You could choose to use low nitrogen fuels in order to lower the creation of the oxide. You can also try modifying the combustion conditions in order to create less nitrogen oxide. One of the easiest ways to reduce the effects of your diesel engine is to use Adblue. This works by converting nitrogen oxide into nitrogen and steam. This helps to reduce atmospheric pollution, reduce smog and prevent harmful effects on your health. To help reduce your NOx emissions, browse our range of Adblue today!
