The amount of harmful pollutants during rush hour traffic is 29 times higher than it is when traffic flows freely, according to a recent report. The research was published in the journal Atmospheric Environment and focused on pollution from vehicle tailpipe emissions.
Doctors say there are more pollutants in the air because there are more vehicles on the roadway decelerating, stopping, and acceleration. According to researchers with the World Health Organization, air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk.
If you are exposed to polluted air, you are also exposing yourself to several health conditions. “Its been linked with lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases,” said Dr. Manisha Raja, a pediatrician at Parkland Hospital. “It has also been associated with heart disease and stroke, and it’s the eighth leading cause of death each year,” Raja said.
To combat traffic-jam pollution, experts say drivers should keep their windows rolled up, keep the air circulated in the vehicle, and maintain a good distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
