What do cars release into the atmosphere

These emissions, including microscopic particles, can contribute to breathing and heart problems along with an elevated risk of cancer. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency works with the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce air quality standards, and reduce motor vehicle pollution. The MPCA promotes technologies, fuels and driving habits that reduce emissions and fuel consumption for consumers and fleet operators. What is your commuting style?

High in the atmosphere, a layer of ozone protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays. When holes in the atmosphere's ozone layer allow ozone to come closer to Earth, it contributes to smog and causes respiratory problems. Air pollutants emitted from cars are believed to cause cancer and contribute to such problems as asthma, heart disease, birth defects and eye irritation.

Emissions from cars increase the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. At normal levels, greenhouse gases keep some of the sun's heat in the atmosphere and help warm Earth. That said, many scientists believe that burning fossil fuels such as gasoline causes greenhouse gas levels to spike, leading to global warming.

Scientists use sophisticated instruments to measure concentrations of harmful substances in the air, but it's tough to say exactly what percentage of air pollution comes from cars. This makes sense, because many other human activities contribute to air pollution as well. In fact, the production of electricity by coal-fired power plants and other sources can cause more pollution than most cars.

If that wasn't enough, we pollute the air when we heat our homes and public buildings with fuels other than electricity — just as we do when we drive our cars.

Even people who don't drive add to pollution when they buy goods and services that involve fuel when they're made or delivered. What we do know is that the transportation sector is responsible for over 55 percent of NOx total emissions inventory in the U.

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases that are emitted into the air from products or processes, according to the American Lung Asociation , and come from deisel emissions and the burning of gasoline.

Although the U. Environmental Protection Agency EPA declared cars " mobile sources" of pollution , they aren't the only culprits. Big trucks, bulldozers, ships and boats, trains and even snowblowers pollute the air. National Pollutant Inventory data indicates that in Australia motor vehicles remain a major cause of air pollution in urban areas.

However, not all vehicles contribute the same amount of air pollution to the atmosphere. On the GVG, vehicles that meet a higher air pollution standard produce lower levels of harmful pollutants than vehicles of the same fuel type that meet a lower standard. The air pollution standard column reports on the standard to which the particular vehicle has been successfully certified in Australia.

Under Australia's emission standards, vehicles fuelled by petrol, liquefied petroleum gas LPG or natural gas NG are required to meet limits for the emission of carbon monoxide CO , hydrocarbons HC and oxides of nitrogen NOx. In addition to these pollutants, diesel and Euro 5 or later direct injection petrol vehicles must also meet a limit for the emissions of particulate matter PM. Under the emission standards, the emission limits applicable to a particular vehicle vary according to the mass of the vehicle, its fuel type and whether it is a passenger or light commercial vehicle.

Diesel vehicles have a higher emission limit for oxides of nitrogen, while petrol vehicles have a higher emission limit for carbon monoxide.

Diesel vehicles are required to meet a particle number limit to comply with this standard. EPA is addressing climate change by taking the following actions to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector.

Many of these programs have benefits beyond cutting carbon. For example, decreasing fuel consumption can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and save consumers money at the pump.

EPA and DOT issued a joint rule-making that set GHG emissions and fuel economy standards for the largest sources of greenhouse gases from transportation, including cars, light trucks, and heavy-duty trucks. Renewable fuels are produced from plants, crops and other biomass, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions when compared to burning the fossil fuels they replace.

EPA is also now working through the process of potentially setting domestic regulations under the Clean Air Act that address GHG emissions from certain classes of engines used in aircraft. The Energy Independence and Security Act requires federal agencies to only acquire cars, light trucks, or medium-duty passenger vehicles that are low greenhouse gas emitting.