Air Pollution Through to Motor Vehicle Emissions in Sydney

Air pollution

Motor Vehicle Emissions

Sydney

Niklas Bargstedt 10 W

Air Pollution - Motor Vehicle Emissions – Sydney

According to a government report which was commented on by the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) in March Sydney’s air pollution is nearly ten times worse than in any other city in Australia.

Investigations conducted by the newspaper suggest that last summer’s air pollution figures were the worst for Sydney in recent years.

It has been estimated that motor vehicle emissions alone cost Sydney around 1.2 billion $ per year due to health care costs caused by air pollutants.

The nature of the issue

Global warming is a big issue nowadays. This takes place due to air pollution.

Motor vehicles produce gases that contribute to the so called greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere trapping heat radiated from the earth’s surface – increases in the amount of these gases due to air pollution has great impact on the atmosphere and our environment due to a change in climate and rainfall.

On top of that air pollutants have bad effects on human health. It should be our own interest to reduce motor vehicle emissions/ air pollution in order to live in a clean environment.

Air pollution is the amount of impurities in the air. If these pollutants are toxic they become a serious problem. They can have an unpleasant odour, reduce visibility and irritate the senses. In the worst case they can cause death.

They are a hazard to human, plant or animal health. Especially elderly or weak people are affected.

The main sources of air pollution in Sydney are the burning of fossil fuel for transport (e.g. cars), power generation and industrial production.

When burning fuel cars and other motor vehicles produce toxic gases which pollute the environment.

The main gases produced in the process are: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide.

The average passenger vehicle emits about four tonnes of carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) each year. 2.3 kg of carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere for every litre of petrol used.

Concerns from the main pollutants:

CARBON MONOXIDE: It combines with haemoglobin in the bloodstream and reduces oxygen delivery to organs and tissues.

It can inhibit mental alertness and concentration. Most serious threat is for people with cardiovascular disease.

NITROGEN DIOXIDE: comes from motor vehicles and industry such as power plants.

Short-term exposure can increase respiratory illness particularly for children as asthmatics.

OZONE: In the stratosphere this gas protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation.

At ground level it adversely