Biodiesel Could Help Save Lives
Research is Underway to Evaluate the Benefits of Using Biodiesel in Ambulances

Ford Motor Company manufactures 90 percent of the ambulances used in the United States. In 1990, due to fire safety reasons, Ford decided to use diesel engines exclusively in all new ambulances. Before 1990, most ambulances were gasoline powered. 

"Ambulances are continually being fitted with new systems that place increased demands on the vehicle's electrical system," says John Kehoe, president of Osage Industries, an ambulance manufacturer in Linn, Mo. "Gasoline powered ambulances would have to idle at high RPMs in order for the alternator to keep up with the electrical demands placed upon it. An engine idling at high RPMs would cause the gasoline powered engine to overheat and many times catch fire."

As a result, Ford began phasing out their gasoline powered ambulances and have used diesel engines to power them ever since. In 2003, most ambulances are powered by diesel engines.

Although emissions from late model diesel powered engines are dramatically lower than their predecessors, diesel emissions typically contain a higher level of particulate matter (PM) than gasoline powered engines. Patients suffering from respiratory distress could suffer additional problems that may be life threatening due to PM emissions from the conventionally fueled diesel engines.

Our customers have begun to ask about retrofitting their ambulances with an air filtration system that would reduce the diesel emissions," says Kehoe. "These systems are expensive, sometimes costing as mush as $10,000, and they will void the warranty from Ford. So we decided to look at other ways to reduce ambulance emissions."

Kehoe began talking with Tom Kolb, co-owner of Jefferson City Oil Co., about the possibility of using biodiesel in their ambulances.

"John mentioned the exhaust problems with regular diesel fuel in ambulances and the expensive modifications that needed to be made to reduce emissions," says Kolb. "So, I told him about the benefits of biodiesel and how it could potentially be better for ambulance workers and patients.

"Just as a visitor to the hospital, I've noticed that when the ambulances back into the emergency room to unload patients the diesel exhaust fumes can be strong," says Kolb. "I can only imagine how bad it is for the patients."

The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. In addition, biodiesel is safer for people to breathe than regular petroleum diesel.

In 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced long-term exposure to diesel exhaust will likely cause lung cancer which provides a great reason for America to expand use of a cleaner burning alternative that is already commercially available. Biodiesel, a fuel usually made from soybean oil, can reduce targeted cancer-causing compounds by up to 90 percent.

The EPA study brings to conclusion decades of research and highlights the health problems posed by the emissions of older heavy-duty diesel engines operating nationwide. The report says "the overall evidence for potential human health effects of diesel exhausts is persuasive."

"This is not a huge surprise because diesel exhaust has long been a suspected carcinogen," says Tom Verry, Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) director of field services. "But it does underscore the need for cleaner fuel…and that's where biodiesel comes in. Biodiesel dramatically reduces health risks associated with exhaust."

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Nitrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (nPAH) are EPA-targeted compounds thought to cause cancer from diesel engine exhaust.

Pure biodiesel reduces most PAH compounds by 80 percent and nPAH compounds by 90 percent. The findings are the result of two years of independent studies on biodiesel as the fuel completed the Health Effects Testing Requirements of the Clean Air Act. To date, biodiesel is the only fuel to have completed the tests, and the industry submitted the results to the EPA.

"Completing the health effects testing was a huge investment for the industry, most of which came from soybean farmers in the form of their checkoff dollars," says Verry. "But is was worth every penny for us to be able to show that biodiesel does not threaten human health. It's just another reason to use more of this renewable fuel."

Seeing the health and economic benefits of using biodiesel in ambulances, the MSA and Osage Industries decided to conduct some research. They received a $15,000 grant through the Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program to evaluate the benefits of using B20 (20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel) in emergency medical service (EMS) vehicles. Their research was based upon four objectives:

1. Air Quality: Evaluate the clean air benefits to the patients and emergency technicians of using biodiesel in EMS vehicles.

2. Engine Operability: Evaluate the performance on EMS diesel powered vehicles running on a B20 blend.

3. Economic Development: Assess the market potential for biodiesel usage in the Missouri EMS vehicle fleet.

4. Education: Assess the results of the project and work with the appropriate organizations to disseminate the information to Missouri hospitals, ambulance districts, municipalities and professional organizations.
   Kehoe, who also serves as board chairman of the Osage County Ambulance District, says they will begin testing biodiesel in their fleet as well as Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, Mo.

"A portion of the ambulance fleet for Capital Region and the Osage County Ambulance District will be using B20," says Kehoe. "Then we'll continue using conventional diesel fuel in some of our other ambulances to serve as a baseline comparison."

During the six-month demonstration an environmental engineering company will conduct air quality tests of the ambulance interiors and the tailpipe emissions for both the biodiesel and conventional diesel powered ambulances. The air quality test will measure the particulate emissions, carbon monoxide, and unburnt hydrocarbons. The emission profiles for both the biodiesel and conventional powered vehicles will be compared and analyzed.

Capital Region already began using biodiesel in some of their EMS vehicles and they're seeing great results.

"We are currently testing B20 from Jefferson City Oil Company in two of our eight ambulances," says Bruce Grotewiel, Emergency Medical Services manager for Capital Region Medical Center. "We selected one older and one newer model and made no engine modifications when we started.

"We've had absolutely no complaints," says Grotewiel. "We haven't noticed a decreased performance, and there is definitely less black smoke with the biodiesel. We noticed in our garage there is less black smoke on the walls and everything around.

"If this test goes well, I think we'll begin using biodiesel in our entire fleet," concludes Grotewiel. "We're always looking for ways to reduce emissions and working to improve the health of our patients. If biodiesel can help with this, we're definitely open to using the fuel."

This is news the MSA is glad to hear as they continue to promote the use of biodiesel in Missouri.

"This is a testament to the dependability of the fuel," says Verry. "We wouldn't be using it in ambulances, where people's lives are at stake, if we didn't believe in the fuel. This is another great way to expand the market for our domestically produced biodiesel"

Missouri Soybean Farmer, March 2003