Cars Pollution - Research Paper Example

In the year 1991, an incident in California, drew attention of a major section of shoppers as well as people associated with Food and Liquor chain in northern California (Rajan, 1996, p. 3). It might have raised the eye-brows of many shoppers who confronted the situation where they would have to choose paper over plastic bags at the check-out line (Rajan, 1996, p.3). ‘“Automobile pollution is a disease,” cried the banner on one side of the bags and, on the other, “Cure your car!”’ (Rajan, 1996, p.3) This message is supposed to spread awareness and warning message to the passersby such that people think before using their vehicles and consider other means of travel when use of cars can be avoided.

Despite all caution messages, people’s daily lives seem to be unfulfilled without the use of car. Speaking of the automobile use in a continent like North America, it has been seen that the use of automobiles have reached a remarkable stage. Not only do regular office goers and other busy people use cars, but also that section of the society which comprises the young adults contribute to the number of people using cars on a daily basis. Irrespective of the fact that the increase in the use of cars which is taking the shape of something lethal in North America, people are getting obsessed with the use of cars and almost cannot live without one.

According to Jeff Gearhart, “Automobiles are responsible for a majority of lead pollution in North America, or approximately 16 pounds of lead per vehicle over its lifetime” (Gearhart, Griffith and Mills, 2003). The level of lead present in cars is important to consider because it contributes to health and behavioral problems in children and adults. Paradoxically speaking, the use of cars is directly proportional to the percentage of pollutants entering the atmosphere. As a consequence, a major section of the population is also consuming harmful gases like nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and hydrogen oxides as well, which may even result in permanent damage of the lungs and the respiratory system.

The question is very likely to arise as to why is it that cars form one of the principal sources of air pollution. The simplest answer might be that cars are always run by fuels like petrol, diesel, gasoline which play the role behind brining in deadly air pollutants. Choosing something like green vehicles which are designed in a way that burn less gas, and also are able to use alternative fuels thereby avoiding gas, and buying hybrid cars (example: Toyota Prius) which although run on gas yet has an electric motor operated by a battery which enables the engine to stop when the car comes to a halt thereby emitting zero amount of harmful gas, might be an excellent way to prevent pollution (Welsbacher, Anne, 2009, p.

13 and 14). Again, “…in bumper-to-bumper traffic, a driver breathes the not-yet-dispersed carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, lead and other toxics emitted by the car in front.” (Fermi, 1969, p.35) However, cars that are smaller in size produce less amount of pollution than cars that are bigger, as the amount of gasoline burnt by small cars is less and eventually produce less pollution reminds of another interesting fact which is, cars that move faster cause less pollution as compared to the slower moving ones (Fermi,