How Are Cars Contributing to Earth's Environmental Problems?

Cars contribute to environmental problems.

Most of the negative effects of cars on the environment come through their emissions. Two main contaminants are carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Increasing use of electric and hybrid cars may help these problems.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the dominant pollutant associated with greenhouse gases. It is responsible for trapping the sun's radiation and causing the global temperature to rise, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. While carbon dioxide occurs naturally, the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased since the Industrial Revolution and has been accelerated through the use of cars burning fuel.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide is another naturally occurring substance that has become harmful due to over-abundance from vehicle emissions. This toxic substance is responsible for ground-level ozone and fine-particle pollution, which can damage crops and other plant life, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Due to the pollution remaining near earth's surface, nitrogen dioxide is also a source of major health problems in humans.

Alternatives

The growth of the green movement in the first decade of the 21st century has pushed more environmentally friendly forms of technology. A major innovation is the development of electric and hybrid cars. These cars either run completely on electricity or alternate between electricity and oil, depending on the type of driving.

References

• Hybrid Cars: News About Cars, Oil and Our Environment
• EPA: Carbon Dioxide
• EPA: Nitrogen Oxides
• EPA: Nitrogen Dioxide
• EPA: Climate Change
• Environmental Agency: Nitrogen Oxide

Resources

• Hybrid Cars