Environmental Effects

                Vegetable oil is an environmentally friendly fuel source.  It is

Biodegradable, nontoxic, emits few greenhouse gases and is a renewable

energy source [Roach 1].  In terms of carbon dioxide emissions, the plants that

are used as the source of vegetable oil remove more CO2 from the environment

than is produced in the consumption of vegetable oil based fuels.  Also,

vegetable oil does not give off sulfur dioxide emissions[Calais 1]. Further, if

accidentally leaked into the environment, vegetable oil fuel will decompose by 98

percent rendering it harmless to the environment [Roach 2].  In terms of

greenhouse gas, vegetable oil fuel emits 75 percent less greenhouse gases than

regular diesel fuel[Dewey1].  The only negative emission of vegetable oil is

organic particle emissions, which are

higher in vegetable oil as compared to

diesel.  While such organic particle

emissions are suspected carcinogens,

there is no proven link and still the

reduction of other emissions provides

net environmental benefit overall

                                                          [Dartmouth 1].

                However, environmental harm can occur if excessive amounts of

vegetable oil are spilled into oceans and waterways.  In such cases, massive

amounts of vegetable oil can coat the waters surface, thus drowning animals. 

Also, if animals ingest excessive amounts of oil, it can be toxic [National 1]. 

Yet aside from these rare incidents in which tons of oil are spilled, vegetable oil

remains a relatively safe and low polluting fuel