Emerging Technologies

This page has a list of publications and news articles related to Emerging Fuels and Technologies. Find more information about our research on Emerging Technologies.

HEI asking for input on next Strategic Plan

April 30, 2019

At its Annual Conference in Seattle on May 7, HEI is presenting its draft Strategic Plan for 2020-2025

HEI welcomes ideas for next Strategic Plan

February 8, 2019

Quality science to inform decisions does not just happen — it takes a careful strategic effort, drawing from the best minds in policy and science to ensure that the most relevant answers can be produced in time for key upcoming decisions. HEI is now preparing to develop its Strategic Plan for Understanding the Health Effects of Air Pollution for the years 2020 to 2025. In the process it will draw on ideas from sponsors, the scientific community, and the broader community of environmental and other stakeholders.

Workshop summary: Effects of fuel composition on particulate emissions

September 12, 2017

HEI is pleased to announce the publication of the Executive Summary of proceedings from an HEI workshop that focused on the effects of fuel composition on particulate matter (PM) emissions. Approximately 45 researchers and government and industry representatives attended the workshop, which was held in Chicago in December 2016.

Workshop on effects of fuel composition on particles

December 22, 2016

HEI held a workshop on December 8, 2016, to provide an overview of research on the effects of fuel composition on particulate matter (PM). Introductory presentations included overviews of regulatory issues, of engine/vehicle parameters, and of fuel formulation, as well as tail-pipe emissions versus ambient levels of PM. Other presentations discussed the impact of gasoline composition (including ethanol level and aromatics) and engine technology (including gasoline direct injection) on PM emissions. The workshop page includes presentation slides. A summary is forthcoming.

Communication - ACES
Health Effects Institute
2015

This Executive Summary of the Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) summarizes the main findings of emissions and health testing of new-technology heavy-duty diesel engines capable of meeting US 2007/2010 and EURO VI/6 diesel emissions standards. The results demonstrated the dramatic improvements in emissions and the absence of any significant health effects (especially cancer). ACES was the most comprehensive examination done to date of engines meeting the US 2007 and 2010 on-road standards.

Research Report 184
Jacob D McDonald
Jeffrey C Bemis
Lance M Hallberg
Daniel J Conklin
2015

This report describes four studies conducted as a single phase (Phase 3B) of HEI's Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) program, which was designed to evaluate the emissions and health changes resulting from substantially improved diesel engines required under the U.S. EPA 2007–2010 Heavy Duty Diesel Rule. These studies were conducted by Drs. Jacob D. McDonald of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jeffrey C. Bemis of Litron Laboratories, Rochester, New York, Lance M. Hallberg of the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, and Daniel J. Conklin, University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Research Report 166
Jacob D McDonald
Jeffrey C Bemis
Lance M Hallberg
Daniel J Conklin
Maiying Kong
2012

This report provides the first systematic look at the health effects of exposures to emissions from a new-technology heavy-duty diesel engine. Included in this report are results obtained in rats and mice exposed for 1 and 3 months (and some results in rats at 12 months) to exhaust from a 2007-compliant diesel engine with aftertreatment to reduce particulate matter concentrations. Part 1 describes the core inhalation study by Drs. Jake McDonald and Joe Mauderly of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, with results on general organ toxicity, lung histopathology, pulmonary function, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in blood and lung lavage fluid. Parts 2 and 3 describe studies by Drs. Jeffrey Bemis of Litron Laboratories and Lance Hallberg of the University of Texas Medical Branch, respectively, assessing genotoxic endpoints in the exposed rodents. Part 4 describes a study of vascular markers by Daniel Conklin of the University of Louisville. The Preface to this report contains background information about the planning and designing of the study, including decisions regarding the diesel exhaust dilutions and the choice of rodent strains.

Communication 17
Joe L Mauderly
Jacob D McDonald
2012
Communication 17 describes Phase 3A of the Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) to test emissions and health effects of emissions from 2007- and 2010-compliant diesel engines. The Communication contains results from the characterization of exposure atmospheres by Drs. Joe Mauderly and Jake McDonald at the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in advance of the start of animal toxicity testing in ACES Phase 3B. It provides important background information on the emissions from one selected 2007-compliant engine and their concentrations in the animal exposure chambers.

This report reviews new vehicle fuels and technologies that are likely to be commercially available within the next 10 years in the United States and other industrialized countries at a level that could result in significant population exposure. It highlights expected changes in emissions and other effects from the use of each technology and fuel, along with any life-cycle and regulatory issues.

Research Report 119
Robert A Yokel
Janelle S Crossgrove
2004

Drs. Yokel and Crossgrove at the University of Kentucky Medical Center studied the mechanisms by which manganese enters and leaves the brain across the blood–brain barrier and, in particular, whether transporter molecules are involved. The investigators used in vivo brain perfusion in rats as well as in vitro tests in several cell lines to assess specific characteristics of manganese transport, such as pH and energy dependence. Manganese transport rates were compared with those of sucrose and dextran, which do not easily cross the blood–brain barrier.