Idling and Health
Cars are pollution machines, but spending less time with the car on helps cut down on pollution.
The health effects of car exhaust can be divided into three broad categories: respiratory illness, cancer and early death.
Exhaust components can contribute to multiple categories. For example, ozone and particulate matter both worsen the symptoms of asthma. Particulate matter has also been linked to pneumonia and chronic lung disease. Ozone has been implicated in lung cancer.
Heavy metals in exhaust such as lead, arsenic and chromium are also considered carcinogenic.
Some see parallels between smoking cigarettes and inhaling exhaust from car engines. Here is a chart adapted from Energy Independence Now, a non-profit organization, that compares the two.
