Quick Facts about Air Pollution

• Cars and trucks produce about 198 Tons of smog-forming pollutants on a summer day in the Portland and Medford regions
• The average car in the Portland and Medford regions travels 12,500 miles a year and releases about 10,727 pounds of emissions
• Pollution from a poorly maintained car is about 3 to 4 times that of a properly functioning car
• Most people in the Portland-Vancouver region drive to work alone. Only 12 percent carpool and 7 percent use transit. (2005 American Community Survey/US Census)
• Turning off and restarting an engine uses less gasoline and produces less pollution than letting the engine idle for 10 seconds
• Lawn and garden equipment produces over 80,000 pounds of smog-forming pollutants on a summer day in the Portland-Vancouver region
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that using a two-cycle outboard motor for one hour equals driving a 1990-model-year car 100 miles
• 80 percent of air pollution comes from our everyday activities

Facts about turning off your engine

You can reduce smog during an Air Pollution Advisory by turning your engine off when your vehicle is parked or waiting in line. By doing so, you and others around you won't have to breathe in unhealthy exhaust fumes from a vehicle that is going nowhere.

• Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting your engine
• Restarting a car many times has little impact on engine components such as the battery and starter motor
• Idling your vehicle with the air conditioning can increase emissions by 13%. Your car will stay cool for a few minutes after you turn the engine off
• Excessive idling can be hard on your engine. Because the engine isn't working at peak operating temperature, fuel doesn't undergo complete combustion. This leaves fuel residue that contaminates engine oil and makes spark plugs dirty.
• For better fuel economy visit: Car Talk Guide

Burning gasoline creates:

• Smog that can cause lung damage and aggravate asthma
• Carbon dioxide that causes climate change
• Several toxic air pollutants that are known or suspected to cause serious health effects including cancer Vehicle exhaust contains benzene, acetaldehyde, butadiene and formaldehyde. National studies estimate that levels of these toxic air pollutants in the Portland region exceed health-based benchmarks that are guidelines for safe levels.
• About 40 to 50 percent of toxic air pollutants in Oregon come from vehicle exhaust, while large industries are responsible for only about 5 to 8 percent of the pollutants.

 

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