Environmental impact of shipping engines can be higher on a port-specific basis. Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is a standard for defining diesel fuel with substantially lowered sulfur contents. As of 2006, almost all of the petroleum-based diesel fuel available in Europe and North America is of a ULSD type. In 2016 the IMO has made new sulfur regulations which must be implemented by larger ships by 2020. Of total global air emissions, shipping accounts for 18 to 30 percent of the nitrogen oxide and 9 percent of the sulphur oxides. Sulfur in the air creates acid rain which damages crops and buildings. When inhaled,
Nitrogen dioxide poisoning The standards also based on the concentration of nitrogen dioxide that show a significant and profound effects on the function of the pulmonary of asthmatic patients. Historically, some cities in the United States including Chicago and Los Angeles have high levels of nitrogen dioxide but the EPA set a standard values less than 100 ppb for a one-hour exposure and less than 53 ppb for chronic exposure. Nitrogen dioxide poisoning is not harmful to all forms of life just like "chlorine gas poisoning" and carbon monoxide poisoning. It is easily absorbed through the lungs and its inhalation result in heart