VW’s diesel vehicles emit more than 40 times the permitted amount by the Clean Air Act. Photo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqnZ_vmKowI
In September of 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a formal violation to German automaker, Volkswagen, after it was discovered that their diesel engines released much higher and harmful amounts of pollution than suggested by reports from laboratory emissions testing. Basically, VW lied and eventually, the truth was uncovered. The result? A huge dive in VW stock value. Over 230 class-action lawsuits. More than $18 billion in potential fines. And a huge influx of toxic NOx (nitrogen oxide) into the environment.
The latter ramification has been causing quite a stir as a new study released by MIT revealed the health implications. By cheating the numbers, the cars emit 40 times more pollution than is permitted by the Clean Air Act. That pollution from the falsely regulated vehicles could result in 60 premature deaths in the United States, reports MIT News. And in the UK, the cars could cause 200 early demises, according to The Telegraph.
Nitrogen Oxide is known to cause respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. In addition to human physical harm, the gas is a contributing factor to environmental decay. That means smog, depletion of the ozone layer resulting in global warming, and acid rain…YES, ACID F*CKING RAIN. Turns out acid rain doesn’t pose any threat of adverse health implications for humans, but still – it sounds extremely terrifying. Danke schön, Volkswagen.
