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Transport is responsible for producing a significant proportion of the toxic pollutants we release into the atmosphere. Developments are being made with cleaner fuels, and more efficient engines, to reduce the emissions from each vehicle, but the increase in the amount we travel may cancel out this effect. Pollution from transport is already high, and predicted to get worse.

 Consider...

The following points indicate the severity of the problem:

• Motor vehicles produce 90 per cent of carbon monoxide, 51 per cent of nitrogen oxides, 41 per cent of volatile organic compounds and 19 per cent of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
  (Source: Car Free London Exhibition 1999)
• The 73 per cent increase in road traffic between 1980 and 2002 resulted in a 39 per cent increase in greenhouse gas emissions from transport, which now accounts for 26 per cent of UK emissions. Two-thirds of people now understand that transport emissions are a major factor contributing to climate change.
  (Source: DfT Transport Trends 2002)
• Air pollution causes between 12,000 and 24,000 premature deaths each year.
  (Source: Committee on the Medical Effect of Air Pollutants)
• The health impacts of traffic pollution cost £11.1bn each year. (Source: Environmental Transport Association)

Air pollution has wide ranging effects. It is a cause of global warming, climate change, and serious health problems. If we continue as we are, large environmental changes could spell disaster across the world. Since transport is the fastest growing source of pollution, reducing the number of vehicles on the roads is an important step in controlling the emissions we produce.

For lots more information on air pollution, what causes it, and its effects, have a look at the following links:

• The Encyclopaedia of the Atmospheric Environment. In particular, look at the Air Quality, and Sustainability sections
• Fact sheet outlining the effects of air pollutants
• Car Pollution Information

In this topic...

	topic overview
	what is sustainability?
	relevance to civil engineering and transport
	history of sustainability in the uk context
	issues involved in creating a sustainable transport policy
	air pollution
	useful links
	exam-style questions

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Transport Issues

last modified: 12-Jan-2006
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