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Air Pollution in the Car

DO YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE CAR ON CONGESTED HIGHWAYS?  THERE MAY BE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES DOWN THE ROAD, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY BY SCOTT FRUIN OF THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BETWEEN THIRTY AND FIFTY PERCENT OF YOUR TOTAL EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL AIR POLLUTANTS OCCURS WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR.

FRUIN: WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE IS WHEN YOU’RE DRIVING, THE AIR THAT GETS IN YOUR CAR IS THE SAME AIR THAT’S RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE ROADWAY. (EDIT) IT’S THE MOST CONCENTRATED VEHICLE EXHAUST YOU TYPICALLY RUN ACROSS IN A CITY.

HE SAYS DIESEL TRUCKS SEEM TO BE DRIVING THE PROBLEM – IN FACT, THE NUMBER ON THE ROAD WAS AN EVEN STRONGER PREDICTOR OF AIR POLLUTION THAN OVERALL CONGESTION.

SO HE SAYS ONE WAY TO GET ON THE ROAD TO BETTER HEALTH IS TO TRY TO SPEND LESS TIME IN THE CAR.

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