A marginal saving in health costs in the four major Australian cities would arise from widespread use of E5 and E10 ethanol blends, according to this study. But this saving will be eroded over time as new vehicles, with improved emission control technology, enter the Australian fleet.

This project provides data, modelling analysis and scientific interpretation by which the human health impacts of adopting E5 or E10 ethanol blends in petrol are estimated for the Australian passenger vehicle fleet in Sydney and three other major urban centres. 

The study measured the difference in vehicle emissions between ethanol blend petrol (up to 10 per cent) and unleaded petrol under Australian conditions. The study then estimated the impact that changes in emission levels may have on the health budget, by modelling the costs of illness and death due to air pollution. The results of the study are calculated using Sydney data, which has been extrapolated to include the four major Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth).

Results for other emissions from E5 and E10 show that some pollutants marginally increase such as oxides of nitrogen while others marginally decrease such as carbon monoxide marginally decrease.

Overall the study estimates a marginal health cost savings in the four major Australian cities from widespread use of E5 and E10. However this saving will be eroded over time as new vehicles, with improved emission control technology, enter the Australian fleet.