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Scientist Calls for Ban On 2-Strokes
World first research measuring outboard engine emissions in fresh and salt water, has found underwater pollutants could be cut by up to 1000 percent by switching from 2 to 4-stroke outboard engines. Research by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) found that 2-stroke engines produced up to 10 times more water pollution than equivalent 4-strokes. According to Doctor Richard Brown from QUT's School of Engineering Systems, the cocktail of chemicals outboard motors left in their wake acidified waterways and deposited long-lasting carcinogens. "Heavy metals can be bound in sediments, but as outboard motor emissions lower the pH of the water, heavy metals can be released as the water becomes acidified," Dr Brown said. "The heavy metals in the acid water then become bio available and enter the food chain." Dr Brown said previous studies had focused on air pollutants produced by these engines but no one had, so far, looked at what they left behind underwater. "We now know we can reduce emissions by 1000 per cent using 4-stroke engines," he said. "Approximately 80 per cent of outboard engines are 2-stroke - perhaps because they are cheaper to produce - but people are changing their minds about them, and in 10 years we hope high emission outboards will have been phased out in Australia. "In Europe and the United States this is already happening as regulations are becoming much more stringent because of pollution effects in waterways." Commenting on the findings, Honda Australia Marine Manager, Tim Davies said the results were no surprise and added, "It's certainly disappointing that these pollution levels are entering our waterways. Honda founder Soichiro Honda, realised back in the 1960s that 4-stroke engines were the way of the future and proceeded to only manufacture these engines - you have to admire his forethought in light of this new research." Mr Davies continued to point out that preserving Australian waterways was crucial and an issue that needed to be addressed as soon as possible. "To its credit the Australian Government is starting to listen to the concerns that the scientific community has aired in relation to 2-stroke technology, and it may not be too long before we see regulation similar to that in the United States and Europe introduced here," Mr Davies said. "In the meantime it's our role to encourage consumers to consider the environmentally responsible 4-stroke option when purchasing an outboard." Dr Brown is an independent researcher. He is one of a number of world wide experts consulted by Honda Japan's technical centre 
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