What kind of air pollution is worse closer to traffic?
Car and truck exhaust contains a mix of different types of air pollution. This mixture includes tiny particles of soot, toxic gases like nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, and many poisonous or irritating chemicals. Diesel vehicles produce more fine particles and sulfur dioxide from the sulfur in diesel fuel. Older vehicles are usually dirtier than newer ones. Nitrogen oxides affect the lungs, so asthma and other lung diseases can get worse. Carbon monoxide harms fetal development and also causes heart disease and neurological damage. People exposed to fine particles can have a number of health problems. Risks of heart attacks and strokes, decreased birth weight, and lung cancer can all increase. Different health effects, including eye and throat irritation, worsened asthma, some types of cancer, and heart disease are linked to other toxic and irritating chemicals found in exhaust.
