As someone who’s passionate about both cars and the environment, it pains me to say that our beloved vehicles are a major source of air pollution. In Australia alone, cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all emissions – more than any other sector. Continue below to learn some surprising facts about the link between the automotive industry and rising air pollution levels, plus what you can do to help alleviate the harmful emissions caused by cars and trucks on the road.

Fuel-Powered Vehicles Pollute the Air

There are a few different ways that cars pollute the air. First, they emit harmful gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These gases contribute to climate change and can cause respiratory problems in people. Second, cars release particulate matter into the air. Particulate matter is made up of tiny particles of soot, dust, and other materials that can get into our lungs and cause health problems. Finally, cars produce emissions from the evaporation of fuel. These emissions contain harmful chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde, which can cause cancer.

Facts and Statistics About Air Pollution Caused By Cars

* Cars are one of the leading causes of air pollution, generating large amounts of emissions that pollute the air.

* On average, each passenger car emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year

* Tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks are a significant source of air pollution, including smog and particulate matter

* According to the Environmental Protection Agency, transportation accounts for about one-third of all emissions

* Cars and trucks produce about 60% of the nitrogen oxides in the country, and almost 80% of the carbon monoxide

* The EPA estimates that passenger cars and light trucks account for almost 20% of all the greenhouse gases emitted each year

* Reducing the amount of air pollution generated by cars and trucks is an important step in protecting the environment and human health.

How You Can Help Reduce Automotive Air Pollution

So, what can we do to reduce the amount of air pollution generated by cars? By making a few small changes, we can make a big difference in the quality of the air we breathe. For one, we can switch to cleaner-burning fuels like natural gas or electric vehicles. We can also improve the efficiency of our cars by investing in hybrid or electric vehicles.

We can make a difference by driving less, too. Carpooling, walking, and biking are all great ways to reduce our reliance on cars. And when we do drive, we can make an effort to avoid idling our engines, which emits harmful pollutants into the air.

One of the best ways to contribute to the global effort of environmental protection and preservation is to recycle an old or totaled car. Automotive recycling is one of the most supported sustainable enterprises in the world, contributing to nearly 40% of the ferrous metal for the scrap processing industry, plus 14 million tons of recycled steel.