Pollution and harmful substances
Chemical emissions
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Impairs the oxygen uptake in the blood.
- Leads to tiredness and can be life-threatening in large amounts.
- Catalytic converters reduce carbon monoxide emissions.
Hydrocarbons (HC)
- Causes cancer.
- May impact on genetic material.
- Contributes to the formation of tropospheric ozone.
Nitric oxide (NOx)
- Contributes to the acidification of soil and eutrophication of lakes.
- Impacts on human genetic material and airways.
- Contributes to the formation of tropospheric ozone.
Tropospheric ozone
- Ozone that forms too close to the ground is harmful to plants and animals.
Eutrophication
- Eutrophication is when a lake gets too many plant nutrients (similar to us eating greasy fast food every day).
- This leads to harmful algal blooms and the lakes getting overgrown.
- The greatest causes are nitric oxide from traffic and phosphorus.
Acidification
- Acidification is when acid substances spread to an abnormally large extent.
- Causes damage to lakes and forests.
- The greatest causes are nitric oxide from traffic and phosphorus.
Soot and harmful particles
- Common problem in cities with many cars.
- Affects the airways and can cause cancer.
Noise
- Disturbing car noise is a common occurrence in cities.
- Noise protection reduces the problems.
Statistics
- 300–2,000 cases of cancer are caused by air pollution each year.
- 1.5 million people are exposed to traffic noise in their homes.
The speed limit has been reduced from 110 to 90 km/h in order to reduce noise.