This week’s news brings several articles regarding vehicle emissions testing. Some states are revamping their testing process to save money, other states are debating extending testing to rural parts of their state, and some are even revolting because a number of testing facilities have been cheating the system and passing cars that were never even tested.  After scanning a few of these articles, I began wondering how many of us actually understand the emissions test, or are we just going through the motions because the law says we have to?

The primary purpose of emissions testing is obviously to lower polluting emissions into the environment. Many of these pollutants are the result of unburned or partially burned fuel passing through the combustion system of an engine, while others are simply naturally occurring chemical reactions that occur from the temperatures and air mixtures in vehicular operation. The primary pollutants that adversely affect human, animal, and plant welfare are:

• Hydrocarbons – can contribute to liver damage and cancer
• Carbon monoxide  – reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and overexposure may be fatal
• Nitrogen oxides – destroys the body’s resistance to respiratory infection
• Particulates – causes respiratory illnesses and complications
• Sulphur oxides – cause of breathing problems in asthmatics and people who are active outdoors 

As if the effects on humans and animals were not enough, these pollutants lead to acidified soils, lakes, and streams; accelerated corrosion of buildings and monuments; reduced visibility; and a host of other environmental problems.

After considering these toxins and their harmful effects, I decided that maybe, just maybe, emissions testing isn’t as bad as I’ve always made it out to be, and maybe I won’t complain quite so loudly next time my registration renewal says it’s time for me to visit emissions. Another bit of news to ease the pain the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality; has made it a little easier by staying open later on weeknights and weekends. And, if you need a helping hand getting your car to pass, the friendly technicians at Good Works Auto Repair; in Tempe; and Mesa; are experts in auto emissions!