It’s not just car emissions – cars affect our health in many different ways!

Last updated on April 23rd, 2021

You are surely aware that car emissions have a huge impact on our health and environment, but did you know that there are many other harmful micro-particles being produced by poor car maintenance and aggressive driving?

The invisible killer

Along with car emissions, one of the biggest issues in urban areas is noise level. Cars produce so much noise that it actually affects the quality of life in those areas. But there is also an invisible health threat to which we are being exposed daily. If you are an aggressive driver, you might want to think twice. Aggressive driving usually requires aggressive braking and this tears your car’s tires and breaks, especially brake pads. Now you might say „I’ll just buy new tires and brake pads“, but what if I told you that this is not about the money, but about your health?! Tearing down tires and brake pads produces micro-particles that end up flying around. These particles are divided into two main groups: PM 10 and PM 2.5 (PM – particulate matter). PM 10 are particles with 10 or fewer micrometers in diameter. Research has shown that high exposure to these particles can lead to them finding their way to our lungs and even cardiovascular system, and they are often cancerous. The PM 2.5 particles are even more dangerous since they can access our bodies through our skin and cause respiratory and cardiovascular health issues.

Although one car cannot produce sufficient amount of these particles for them to be dangerous, we need to be aware of how many cars are on the roads today. We all should put some effort in reducing the negative effects. Proper car maintenance and responsible driving help to prevent harmful effects. By being a responsible driver you save your car from wear and tear, you save your money, but most importantly you save your and the health of everyone around you.