The environmental effects of highway traffic pollution

Abstract

During recent years there has been a widespread attempt to reduce air pollution from all sources. In the United Kingdom the Clean Air Act of 1956 has resulted in a noticeable decrease in coal consumption and a reduction in air pollution from domestic and industrial sources. During this same period there has been a marked increase in the volume of road traffic and consequently an increase in pollution from this source. The National Society for Clean Air¹ estimates that, during 1956 in the United Kingdom, the total coal and oil consumed was equivalent to 276 million tons (coal equivalent) and only 26 million tons of this were used for road or rail transport. It is however an increasing source of pollution, which is emitted in situations close to human activity. Approximately one-third of the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere is produced from vehicle exhausts.