Pollution and harmful substances

Chemical emissions

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

• The greenhouse gas that contributes the most to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
• The combustion of fossil fuels like petrol diesel causes great carbon dioxide emissions.

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 (NO_x)

• 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.

Last updated 2018-03-11.