Environmental effects of automobile emissions

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Environmental Sciences, grade: B, The University of Chicago, language: English, abstract: Environmentally conscious individuals subscribe to the idea that driving a car is the most polluting act humans commit. According to WGBH Educational Foundation (2011), transport is the second leading carbon disoxide emitter. Automobile emissions consist of greenhouse gases or hydrocarbons such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide (incomplete combustion), nitrous oxides and sulfur oxides. These greenhouse gases are responsible for greenhouse effect which has led to the depletion of ozone layer. The depletion of the ozone layer, which retains the heat radiated from the surface of the earth, results into global warming and climate change. Additionally, automobile emissions can be harmful to human, animal, and plant life. Some common respiratory problems are known to result from inhalation of air that has been poisoned by automobile emissions (U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, 2011). In the recent years, acid rains have resulted to loss of vegetation or property destruction. Automobile emissions are responsible for the generation of sulfur oxides which facilitate the formation of acid rains. Automobile emission is both a local and global problem. This is because emissions in one place, for example industrial emissions in developed countries, have their effect felt across the globe. The heavy automobile emissions are to blame for the current climate change problem that threatens human life on earth.