Issue 8/2014 - EPA requires a significant reduction in sulfur content in gasoline starting in 2017

The U.
S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced March 3 that beginning in 2017, all gasoline products sold on the U.
S.
market must contain no more than 10 ppm
of sulfur.
The long-delayed Tier 3 (Phase III Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Standards Program) requires U.
S.
gasoline sulfur levels to be reduced to less than 10 ppm from the current 30 ppm, as well as other harmful vehicle emissions
.
EPA had planned to finalize the program
in 2012.

The EPA says the naturally occurring sulfur element in crude oil is a major factor in reducing the efficiency of vehicle exhaust catalytic converters, which can eliminate smoke emissions
that cause asthma and lung disease.
Environmental and public health organizations have expressed support
for this programme.
The EPA says a deep reduction in sulfur in gasoline would have significant air quality and health benefits, averting up to 2,000 premature deaths per year by 2030
.
(Pang Xiaohua excerpt)