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Car Pollution Definition, Effects and how it can be solved

T he introduction of steamed engine automobiles in the 1700s def initely paved way to greater things. Because of rapid urbanization, having a car these days becomes a necessity due to the convenience it brings, especially in terms of transportation. While the car has made our lives easier, something has to suf f er due to its harmf ul emissions and that is our environment.

What is Car Pollution?

When you use a car or any f orm of vehicle, the f uel in it will be burned by the car engines thereby producing dif f erent kinds of gases being emitted such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which are the primary pollutants caused by cars nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon. Apart f rom these gases, soot, sulf ur dioxide, benzene and f ormaldehyde are also produced. T hese emissions are toxic substances that contribute to damages that are harmf ul to the environment, thus resulting to pollution.

Car Pollution Statistics

Most of the countries in the Middle East account f or the highest pollution rates in the world. Pakistan is the third most polluted countries in the world and one of the countries with the highest levels of air pollution caused by cars with 11,000 vehicles per hour on the roads. T he United Arab Emirates is also one of the most polluted countries in the world where 42% of the air pollution comes f rom cars. In Saudi Arabia, vehicle exhaust is responsible f or 50% of hydrocarbon pollution in the air. Further, 80% of the air pollution in Iran is caused by 3.5 million cars in Tehran alone. In Af rican countries, Senegal has one of the highest levels of car exhaust pollution in the world. 85% of the cars are old, ranging f rom 15-20 years where 40% have diesel engines. Also, in Cairo, Egypt alone which has 2.1 million vehicles as of 2007, 300,000 motorbikes release 150,000 tons of pollution every year. In addition, 95% of the two-stroke motorbikes emit hydrocarbons equivalent to emissions of f rom 10-15 gasoline-operated cars.

Car Pollution Ef f ects

Cars and the environment have an intertwined relationship. If lef t unsolved, not only will it f urther damage the environment but also, it can aggravate and is already causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems among the people today due to the toxic substances released in the air. Besides lung cancer and heart conditions, cars and asthma are also interrelated. According to a study, children who live close to busy roads are 83% more likely to suf f er f rom asthma. Further, one out of seven children in the United Kingdom suf f ers f rom asthma due to traf f ic pollution. Even worse, car pollution can be held accountable f or birth def ects wherein mothers who live in highly polluted areas have higher chances of developing congenital

neural tube def ects or premature births. Aside f rom its harmf ul ef f ects on humans, car pollution also af f ects the environment. T he gases coming out f rom cars contribute to global warming. It can also be deposited on the soil and water surf aces, thus entering the f ood chain. As a result, these pollutants af f ect the reproductive, respiratory, immune and neurological systems of the animals. Another harmf ul ef f ect on the environment is that nitrogen oxide and sulf ur oxide f rom automobiles are major contributors to acid rain, which in ef f ect changes the pH level of the water and soils that can harm the organisms. Apart f rom this, vehicle emissions can af f ect the ozone layer when chlorine or bromine-heavy substances are being released. T he ozone layer helps protect the Earth f rom the suns ultraviolet rays and through these pollutants, ozone layer can be depleted thereby reducing protection against the sun.

Car Pollution Solutions

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, more than half of the air pollution is primarily caused by automobiles .Cars remain to be a signif icant contributor to air pollution and unless we dont do something about it, pollution will continually increase. Now we ask, how to reduce car pollution? If possible, dispose old cars that are more than 15 years. A 1985 car emits approximately 38 times more carbon monoxide than a car manuf actured in 2001. Also, there are hybrid or electrical cars that are available in the market today which you can avail of . But if you f ind it costly, then the important thing is to maintain the vehicle by changing its oil and tuning in the engine every so of ten or changing its tires. With proper maintenance, f uel ef f iciency will increase at the same time, reducing f uel energy consumption and pollution. Also, drive cautiously and as much as possible, avoid f ast acceleration, changing speed, sudden braking or any f orms of aggressive driving. Not only is it dangerous, you can even save 5-33% on gas mileage, thus requiring less gas and limiting the cars emissions. Apart f rom these, opt to ride a bike or train or if you only need to go to a short distance, take a walk. Not only will you help reduce the pollutants, but also this could be a start of a healthier lif estyle.