By Leslie Ball


Ethanol production has been increasing rapidly over the decade. In two thousand, there are two billion gallons distributed and in less than a decade, it reached to nine billion gallons. In the next decade, it is expected to rise in triple.

The production of gases and fuels can be risky to the health and the environment if not processed meticulously. Ethanol transport may also prove to be risky if there are accidental leaks, explosions, spills, and fires during the process. These are transported through tanker trucks, barges, and rail tanks. Other kinds of fuel like petroleum already have pipelines through which they are transported from one place to another. Pipelines still cannot support the level of chemical contents of bioethanol.

The supply chain has increased in demand for a blend of ethanol and gasoline. Others also want it to be plain ethanol at one hundred percent. The chemical combination has the capacity to denature which may possibly mix with the atmosphere and ground water. Communities like Denmark, TN, where these chemicals can be transported know little about their fatal effects.

The biofuel attracts vapor from the air. It can also degrade conventional seals quite easily. The combination will also burn deep into the skin. The moment it is exposed, no one will be able to notice it directly because it is nearly invisible. Commercial gasoline and bioethane differ in chemical characteristics. They have different solubility, conductivity, boiling point, and density.

Corn is the raw material which will be processed into a biofuel. Studies show that improper growth of corn can affect the purity of the end product. If combined with gasoline without proper procedure and safety measures, they can leak from containers causing environmental contamination.

Some other health and environmental risks include emissions that can pollute the air. This happens during the mixing, dispensing, and storage of the fuel. It can also contaminate water and kill plants and animals. In addition, when exposed to extremely hot conditions, it can explode and harm humans as well.

Rail transport of these biofuels is a public safety concern. Some of these are travelling to populous areas. If something goes wrong with the storage, they could release large quantities of poisonous fumes, which is dangerous to the health. Many are not even aware that there are already some particles of this chemical mixed with the air because it is nearly invisible.

Government agencies have taken measures to protect the citizens and the environment from potential harm. They have issued detection technologies to see if there are leaks that could lead to contamination. However, these are limited to other kinds of commercial gases and fuels. There is still no other technologies that can support the chemical characteristics of blended ethanol and gasoline.

According to reports, petroleum has lesser damage than that of ethanol and gasoline combined. The chemical combination can cause widespread destruction because it can stay longer in the atmosphere and in water, it is more toxic, and it is more pollutant. Its carcinogenic characteristic makes it survive in air and water for longer periods than petroleum and other known commercial gases and fuels. Thus, the government must do more action regarding this.




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