What are the main harmful gases emitted by vehicles?
2 Answers
Vehicle exhaust contains carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide, lead, carbon particles, and other impurity particulates. Below is an introduction to the hazards of vehicle exhaust: 1. Harm to human health: While consuming large amounts of resources, vehicles emit exhaust that severely impacts human health. Carbon monoxide in vehicle exhaust binds to hemoglobin in the blood 250 times faster than oxygen. Therefore, even inhaling trace amounts of carbon monoxide can cause terrifying hypoxic damage. 2. Harm to the environment: Photochemical smog is one of its major effects. Photochemical smog refers to the formation of secondary pollutants such as ozone, aldehydes, ketones, and PAN from hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere under sunlight, which have a far greater impact on human health than nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons alone.
I've been driving for over a decade and know all about harmful vehicle emissions. The main ones include carbon monoxide, which comes from incomplete fuel combustion. It's like an invisible killer that can quickly cause oxygen deprivation, unconsciousness, or even death in enclosed spaces - extremely dangerous. Hydrocarbons are the unburned gasoline components that create that fuel smell, seriously polluting the air and contributing to urban smog. Long-term exposure may damage the respiratory system. Nitrogen oxides are toxic gases formed at high temperatures that can cause acid rain corroding buildings and worsen asthma or pneumonia, especially harmful to the elderly and children. Particulate matter is so fine it's invisible, like the black smoke from diesel vehicles, directly entering and accumulating in lungs, potentially causing cancer or heart disease. While carbon dioxide isn't directly harmful to humans, it's the major contributor to global warming leading to extreme weather. I recommend regular engine maintenance, minimizing idling in congested areas, switching to low-emission vehicles like China VI standard models to reduce pollution hazards.
