What is pollution?

Over time, the chemicals in pollution can accumulate in the food chain or inside your body, so even if you're exposed for only a short time the risk can be significant.

Friendly or Lethal?

The desire to own a car is linked to pleasure, sexuality, convenience and freedom. Men lust for big, prestigious cars they way they lust for women and women desire men with big, prestigious cars. Men are also interested in power, performance and want to know something about the engine

But it has consequences.

Causes of vehicular pollution

High vehicle density in urban centers. Older vehicles predominant in vehicle vintage. Inadequate inspection and maintenance facilities. Predominance of two stroke two wheelers

Motor vehicle emissions

Motor vehicle emissions are composed of the by-products that comes out of the exhaust systems or other emissions such as gasoline evaporation

Exhaust emissions: what are they?

Potentially dangerous vehicle emissions include:

Carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide Nitrogen dioxide Sulphur dioxide Benzene Formaldehyde Polycyclic hydrocarbons Lead Tiny suspended particles (particulate matter)

Negative Effects

To understand air pollution you can consider a simple schematic that divides a big problem into components:

1. Local effects -e.g. poisoning humans breathing bad air. 2. Regional effects - fallout from airborne pathogens - infections, particles, chemicals. 3. Global effects - changing interactions between the atmosphere and sun, weather effects, effects on plants and oceans.

The impact of urban sprawl

Consequences

Exposure to air pollutants can harm our health on many fronts:

Respiratory effects

Consequences

Exposure to air pollutants can harm our health on many fronts:

Cardiovascular effects

Consequences

Exposure to air pollutants can harm our health on many fronts:

Reproductive effects

Consequences

Exposure to air pollutants can harm our health on many fronts:

Long term exposure

Consequences

Exposure to air pollutants can harm our health on many fronts:

Cancer

What Can We Do?

Walkable, compact, transit-friendly communities

Well-designed, compact communities where people can walk to school and work, to stores, parks and restaurants can significantly reduce the need to drive.

What Can We Do?

Using Electric Vehicles

Under development and promise to become vehicles of choice for urban transportation

What Can We Do?

Efficient public transportation systems

Buses, subways, and trains that run frequently and on time, reach more communities and are affordable offer more alternatives to driving.

What Can We Do?

Preserve greenspace

Parks and wildlife refuges can help clean and cool the air and offer a fresh air refuge for residents.

Conclusion

Without a healthy natural environment, there will be few or no healthy humans.