Health issues
Smoky vehicle impacts on community and personal health
Smoke emissions can be odorous and are visibly offensive. Vehicle exhaust is a major cause of soiling of city buildings and of the general griminess of urban areas. Smoke contributes to haze levels and is unpleasant for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
Ozone
The health effects of ground level ozone, the major component of smog, have been widely studied. Even at very low levels ozone is thought to:
- cause acute respiratory problems
- aggravate asthma
- cause temporary decreases in lung function in healthy adults
- lead to hospital admissions and emergency room visits
- impair the body's immune system.
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Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide is a major precursor to ozone as well as being a pollutant in its own right. Health studies of nitrogen dioxide indicate that it:
- can damage the respiratory system
- is associated with increased respiratory infections in children, especially asthmatics
- may increase the effects of allergens
- is associated with hospital admissions for asthma
- is associated with hospital admissions for heart disease.
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Particles
Health studies indicate that there is no obvious threshold level of particles below which there are no effects on health. These studies have shown that particles may:
- increase mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
- increase hospital admissions for chronic obstructive airways diseases
- reduce lung function in children with asthma
- increase respiratory symptoms in school children.
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Page last updated: 26 February 2011
