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The Effects of Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles

One of the main causes of air pollution from motor vehicles comes from fuel emissions. Hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide produced by motor vehicles contribute to air pollution. These pollutants have many adverse effects on ecological systems, our health and the environment. Some of the effects such as global warming, the greenhouse effect and health risks associated with automotive exhaust fumes have reached global awareness and concern.

  1. Greenhouse Effect

    • One of the effects of air pollution from motor vehicles comes from the release of carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide gets released during gas combustion and lingers in the upper atmosphere, trapping the earth’s heat under its gaseous umbrella. Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane trap energy from the sun, causing the earth’s average temperature to remain warm. This effect is known as the "greenhouse effect." Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would experience an approximate 60-degree drop in its average temperature.

    Global Warming

    • While the greenhouse effect keeps the earth’s average temperature warmer, at the same time, increased motor vehicle use causes more greenhouse gases to get emitted into the atmosphere; this traps more and more of the earth’s heat, causing an overall warming to the planet’s temperature. Since 1850, the eight warmest recorded years have all occurred since 1998. Climatologists recorded 2005 as the warmest year on record. This “global warming” effect has immediate and future negative impacts on the earth’s ecosystem. Many glaciers around the world have started to melt. When this occurs, the glaciers release billions of gallons of water into the sea, thus causing sea levels to rise. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change can affect people’s health. Heat stress and other heat-related illnesses stem from very warm, humid temperatures.

    Disease Effects

    • Common air pollutants such as carbon monoxide have a negative effect on blood and organs of the body. According to the Alpha Nutrition website, “Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin two hundred times more avidly than oxygen and distorts the release to the tissues of any remaining oxygen.” In other words, carbon monoxide basically suffocates a person to death. The gas also intensifies cardiovascular disease in humans. Most people receive exposure from the hydrocarbon benzene from tobacco smoke and automotive exhaust. Exposure to benzene has been linked to the development of leukemia and lymphomas (cancer). Benzene exposure can lead to a complete loss of bone marrow or a reduced number of blood cells.

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