Euro IV: road to a cleaner city

Euro IV fuel was introduced in Delhi and 12 other cities as a less polluting alternative to regular fuel that meets new international standards.

Euro IV fuel was introduced in Delhi and 12 other cities as a less polluting alternative to regular fuel that meets new international standards. One of the major differences is that Euro IV fuel has lower sulphur content than other fuel,and emits lower amounts of sulphur dioxide,which is a dangerous pollutant. A look at the ambient air pollution data last year and this year,a month after the new fuel was introduced.

* Date when Euro IV petrol and diesel was made mandatory in Delhi: April 1

* Number of cities where it has been introduced: 13

* Amount of sulphur Euro IV fuels can have: 50 parts per million

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* Amount of sulphur conventional fuel could have: up to 550 parts per million

* Amount of sulphur dioxide recorded in air in May 2009: 12.40 microgram (mg)/m3

* Amount of sulphur dioxide recorded in air in May this year: an average of 10 mg/m3

* Amount of nitrogen oxides recorded in May 2009: average of 100 mg/m3

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* Amount of nitrogen oxides recorded in May 2010: 100 mg/m3 in ITO; 40 mg/m3 in Bawana; 50 mg/m3 at Siri Fort

* Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter in Delhi in May 2009: Maximum: 297 mg/m3; minimum: 225 mg/m3

* RSPM in May 2010: 150 mg/m3