In a recent report published by “Die Umwelt” magazine, Switzerland has announced that it is one of the first countries in Europe to adopt a new, more efficient method for controlling emissions from diesel vehicles. The federal government has taken measures to combat harmful particles, and the report outlines the success of their efforts so far.

Switzerland has taken a significant step towards reducing harmful emissions from diesel vehicles by introducing a new and more effective method for measuring emissions. The Partikelanzahl-Messung method measures the concentration of electrically charged exhaust particles, including increasingly smaller and finer ones. Compared to the previous method, Opazimetrie, which only measures the opacity of exhaust gases, the new method is more sensitive and provides a more accurate assessment of the level of harmful particles in the air.

To ensure that diesel vehicles comply with the new measurement standards, the Swiss government has made it mandatory for all diesel vehicles with a particulate filter to undergo the Partikelanzahl-Messung measurement. The government has also conducted workshops to train experts and authorized several measuring devices.

This new method has been developed in collaboration with international organizations and is now being adopted by other European countries, including Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. However, it is important to note that the method is only applicable to diesel vehicles, and there is still no consensus on a simple and reliable method for measuring particles in gasoline engines’ exhaust gases.

While the new method is only applicable to diesel vehicles, it represents a significant step towards minimizing the impact of harmful emissions on the environment and human health. The Swiss government’s proactive stance on reducing emissions from diesel vehicles is commendable, and it sets an example for other countries looking to combat the negative effects of diesel emissions. However, there is still no consensus on a simple and reliable method for measuring particles in gasoline engines’ exhaust gases, which remains an area for further research and development.

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