Exhaust gases of cars - is gas as terrible as it is painted?
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They accompany us almost everywhere - they fly into our kitchen through the window, they follow us in the passenger compartment of a car, at a pedestrian crossing, in public transport ... Car exhaust gases - are they really as dangerous to humans as the media portrays?
From general to specific - air pollution from exhaust gases
From time to time, in large cities, due to the impending smog, even the sky is not visible. The authorities of Paris, for example, on such days are trying to limit the exit of cars - today the owners of cars with even numbers are driving, and tomorrow with odd ones ... But as soon as a fresh wind blows and spreads the accumulated gases, everyone is released onto the road again until a new wave of smog covers the city so that tourists do not see the Eiffel Tower. In many large cities, it is cars that are the main air pollutants, although globally they concede leadership to industry. Only the sphere of energy production from petroleum products and organics emits twice as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as all cars combined.
Plus, according to ecologists, humanity annually cuts down as much forest as would be enough to process all CO2released into the atmosphere from the exhaust pipe.
That is, whatever one may say, but the pollution of the atmosphere by car exhaust gases is, on a global scale, only one of the links in the consumption system that is detrimental to our planet. However, let's try to move from the general to the particular - which is closer to us, some kind of factory on the edge of geography, or a car? "Iron Horse" - by and large, our personal generator of exhaust "charms", which here and now continues to do this. And it harms, first of all, to ourselves. Many drivers complain of drowsiness and are looking for a way to not fall asleep at the wheel, not even suspecting that the lack of strength and vigor is due to the inhalation of exhaust!
Exhaust fumes - is it that bad?
In total, exhaust gases contain more than 200 different chemical formulas. These are nitrogen, oxygen, water and the same carbon dioxide that are harmless to the body, and toxic carcinogens that increase the risk of serious illnesses up to the formation of malignant tumors. However, this is in the future, the most dangerous substance that can affect our health here and now is carbon monoxide CO, a product of incomplete combustion of fuel. We cannot feel this gas with our receptors, and it inaudibly and invisibly creates a small Auschwitz for our body. - the poison limits the access of oxygen to the cells of the body, which in turn can cause both an ordinary headache and more serious symptoms of poisoning, up to loss of consciousness and death.
The most terrible thing is that it is children who are most poisoned - just at the level of their inhalation, the greatest amount of poison is concentrated. The ongoing experiments, which took into account all sorts of factors, revealed a pattern - children who are regularly exposed to carbon monoxide and other "exhaust" products simply become dumb, not to mention weakened immunity and "minor" diseases like the common cold. And this is just the tip of the iceberg - is it worth describing the effects of formaldehyde, benzopyrene and 190 other different compounds on our body?? The pragmatic Britons have calculated that exhaust fumes kill more people every year than die in car accidents!
Car exhaust fumes - how to deal with them?
And again, let's move from the general to the particular - you can accuse world governments of inactivity as much as you like, scold industrial magnates whenever you or your family members get sick, but you and only you can do something, if not to completely abandon the car, but at least to reduce emissions. Of course, we are all limited by the capabilities of our wallet, but of the actions listed in this article, for sure, there will be at least one that suits you. Just let's agree - you will start performing right now, without postponing for a ghostly tomorrow.
It is quite possible that you can afford to switch to gas engines - do it! If this is not possible, adjust the engine, repair the exhaust system. If everything is in order with the engine, try to choose the most rational mode of its operation. Ready? Go further - use exhaust gas neutralizers! Wallet won't allow? So save money on gasoline - walk more often, ride a bike to the store.
The cost of fuel is so high that in just a few weeks of such savings, you can afford the best catalytic converter! Optimize trips - try to do as many things as possible in one run, combine trips with your neighbors or colleagues. Acting in this way, fulfilling at least one of the above conditions, you can personally be satisfied with yourself - air pollution by exhaust gases has decreased thanks to you! And do not think that this is not a result - your actions are like small pebbles that entail an avalanche.
