Tailpipe Pollution 50% Higher Than Government Tests Show, Study Finds

"The new research comes as a follow-up to the testing that uncovered the Volkswagen diesel emissions cheating scandal."

"WASHINGTON — Pollution from diesel trucks, buses and cars globally is more than 50 percent higher than levels shown in government lab tests, a new study says.

That extra pollution translated to another 38,000 deaths from soot and smog in 2015, researchers estimated.

The work published Monday in the journal Nature was a follow-up to the testing that uncovered the Volkswagen diesel emissions cheating scandal. Researchers compared the amount of key pollutants coming out of diesel tailpipes on the road in 10 countries and the European Union to the results of government lab tests for nitrogen oxides.

They calculated that 5 million more tons was being spewed than the lab-based 9. 4 million tons. Governments routinely test new vehicles to make sure they meet pollution limits."

Seth Borenstein reports for the Associated Press May 15, 2017.