Masry, Brockovich try to clear the air

By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

More than a decade ago their legal work on a water contamination case became the basis of the acclaimed film "Erin Brockovich." Now Ed Masry, a Thousand Oaks city council member and prominent attorney, and Erin Brockovich, an environmental activist and namesake of the movie, are taking on clean air.

The two lead a company called Save The World Air, Inc. (STWA), which is developing technology to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollution from automobiles, motorcycles, generators, lawn mowers and other internal combustion engines. According to STWA figures, as much as 75 percent of the world’s air pollution is caused by internal combustion engines.

By 2010, the number of automobiles in the world will exceed 800 million, claims the World Resources Institute. Eight million people may die from air pollution-related diseases by 2020, warns the World Health Organization.

"When you start thinking of reducing by 30 to 75 percent all of the emissions from engines, it’s staggering what it would do to the air in the world," said Masry, who’s the company’s CEO. Brockovich is vice president of environmental affairs.

STWA is first targeting developing nations in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central and South America, which Masry says have higher toxic emissions than other countries due to lack of technology.

Compounding the problem is the prevalence of motorcycles in many countries. The two-stroke engines in most motorcycles are major contributors to pollution, according to Masry, and need to be retrofitted with emission-reduction devices.

"There are millions of these motorcycles on the streets and they don’t have a solution to solve this problem," Masry said. "Our problems with smog are real but they are miniscule compared with these countries."

In October, STWA President Eugene Eichler spent two weeks traveling through Bangkok, Singapore and Jakarta, and experienced the problem firsthand.

"Singapore is beautiful, but you almost have to wear a mask when you’re out on the street," Eichler said.

In the U.S., two-stroke engines in motorcycles are banned, replaced by the less-polluting four-stroke engine, but even that can be improved, Eichler added. The two-stroke engine is still being used in snowmobiles, jet skis and off-road vehicles.

STWA’s primary technologies are two devices, one called the CAT-MATE, and the other the Zero Emission Fuel Saving Device (ZEFS).

When fitted with catalysts on two- and four-stroke engines, such as motorcycles, generators, and lawn mowers, CAT-MATE can reduce carbon monoxide emissions by an average 78 percent, nitrous oxide by 75 percent and hydrocarbon by more than 50 percent.

The ZEFS reduces the size of fuel molecules prior to combustion. The process allows fuel molecules to bond almost completely with oxygen atoms and burn so thoroughly that there are almost no harmful emissions.

STWA hopes to eventually bring to the U.S. its innovations, including a two-stroke generator with the CAT-MATE installed. It would be less expensive than the current four-stroke generators consumers use and would meet EPA standards.

The United Nations has taken an interest in STWA’s work. Brockovich spoke at an environmental conference in Indonesia last month that included high-level officials and environmental experts from more than 100 countries.

As a result, discussions are underway between STWA, the U.N. and government officials about possibly establishing pilot programs using the CAT-MATE technology in Mexico, Brazil, Kenya, Indonesia and Thailand.

Brockovich will return to Indonesia in February to present the company’s technology at a second U.N.-sponsored environmental summit of more than 3,000 business and government leaders from around the world.

She’ll serve as a keynote speaker on a panel that will include California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.

The government of Honduras has invited the company to visit to discuss setting and establishing environmental standards and enforcement.

An Australian inventor named Kevin "Pro" Hart created the ZEFS device and remains involved in the company. Masry joined the board of directors after a former client, an investor in the Australian effort, approached him. Masry has recruited a number of investors from Thousand Oaks, including several fellow council members.

"I went into this without thinking of financial remuneration. But it looks like there will be financial rewards," Masry said.

The technology continues to be developed in Australia. The company has contracted with RAND Corporation in Santa Monica to oversee its testing program and help with research and development. Testing is taking place at an Ontario-based lab called Automotive Testing and Development Services and in Hong Kong.

The technology is easy to install, according to Masry. The company is hopeful the U.N.’s World Bank will assist third world countries with financial aid to help motorists pay to install the technology.

"In some way, these countries will have to mandate the technology and then will have to subsidize it. The average taxicab driver or motorist is not going to want to spend the money on it," Masry said. "Governments can do a lot of things to make it economically possible, like waiving registration fees."

For more information, visit www.savetheworldair.com.