What are off-road vehicles?
Off-road vehicles are land-based motorized vehicles that do not drive on roads and highways. They are also sometimes called nonroad vehicles. Nonroad vehicles and engines operate on gasoline, diesel fuel, or propane.
On a farm, agricultural off-road vehicles may include tractors, mowers, combines, and trenching machines. Recreational off-road vehicles on a farm may include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes (nonroad motorcycles), motorized scooters, and snowmobiles. Nonroad engines may be used on a farm in generators to create power, or pump water for irrigation equipment.
Off-road vehicles include construction equipment and vehicles such as forklifts, bulldozers, and backhoes. Nonroad engines are also used in yard and garden equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws.
Off-road vehicles and engines emit almost as much air pollution as highway vehicles. They emit carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. These air pollutants contribute to serious human health problems, including cardiovascular disease, asthma, and bronchitis.
This description is based on the information found in the Web links listed with this topic. Web Links from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine) Air Pollution Farm Health and Safety Motor Vehicle Safety
More Links Nonroad Engines, Equipment and Vehicles home page (Environmental Protection Agency) Reducing Air Pollution from Lawn and Garden Equipment (New York State, Dept. of Environmental Conservation) Rotary Lawn Brush and Mower Safety (Ohio State University Extension) (PDF — 221.85 KB)
Chemicals and Vehicles Are these chemicals in MY community? Acetone Benzene Carbon Dioxide Carbon Monoxide Diesel Ethylene Glycol Ethylene Oxide Formaldehyde Gasoline Methanol Natural Gas Nitrogen Oxides Ozone Particulate Matter Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Propane Styrene Sulfur Dioxide Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Last Updated: December 10, 2012
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