(MENAFN - Jordan Times) The Ministry of Environment on Tuesday urged motorists to refrain from removing catalytic converters from their vehicles in order to prevent air pollution.
A catalytic converter is a device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion engine. A catalytic converter provides an environment for a chemical reaction wherein toxic combustion by-products are converted to less toxic substances, according to web sources.
The device helps protect the environment, air quality and public health, Ministry of Environment Spokesperson Isa Shboul said.
"The device must not be removed from the vehicle's exhaust manifold because it is designed to enable vehicles to run on unleaded fuel," Shboul told The Jordan Times.
He noted that the ministry launched an awareness campaign on Monday to convey the message to the public and asked newspapers to publish public service announcements warning people against removing catalytic converters from their vehicles.
"Some people remove it from their cars because they think it affects the engine's performance, which is wrong. The device purifies the fuel combustion process and reduces the emission of toxic fumes," Shboul underscored.
Abdul Latif Ali, the owner of a garage in Amman's Wadi Seer neighbourhood, explained that catalytic converters are essential for cars, especially as only unleaded fuel is sold at the country's fuel stations.
"The device does not reduce the performance of the car engine in any way. On the contrary, it makes the engine more durable," Ali said, noting that some young drivers remove it in order to be able to drive their cars faster.
As of 2008, all cars imported to Jordan, whether new or used, were required to be equipped with catalytic converters in order to be able to run on unleaded fuel.
The regulation was put in place after the country shifted from leaded to unleaded fuel in early 2008, when the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company announced it had stopped providing fuel stations with leaded fuel.
