Motor vehicle pollution
Fact sheets about motor vehicle pollution
How to reduce air pollution from cars and trucks
Frequently asked questions about motor vehicle pollution
More information and assistance
Our personal transportation choices have a huge impact on air quality. What we drive and how we drive impacts the environment. Motor vehicles give off more than half of all carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions in Minnesota. 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.
Fact sheets about motor vehicle pollution
The following fact sheets provide information about motor vehicle pollution and ways to control and reduce this pollution.
Buying a Cleaner Car- Causes of Motor Vehicle Pollution
- Challenge Your Notions about Commuting
- Diesel Exhaust in Minnesota, What are the Health Effects, Who's at Risk and What Can You Do?
- Health Effects of Motor Vehicle Pollution
How to reduce air pollution from cars and trucks
Since most pollution from cars and trucks is due to the burning of fuel, you can reduce pollution from these sources by burning less fuel, burning fuel cleaner and burning cleaner fuel.
Burn less fuel
- Next time you purchase a vehicle, buy the most fuel efficient vehicle that meets your average daily needs, preferably one that is rated at 32 MPG or more. Rent or borrow a larger vehicle or trailer for the occasional large load.
- If you have more than one vehicle, use the most fuel-efficient one when possible.
- Use transit and car- or van-pool as often as you can. Doing so three times a week can reduce your fuel consumption up to 50%.
- Bike or walk to avoid fuel use entirely.
- Telecommute (working from a home-based location via phone or Internet) to reduce driving
- Minimize driving by working and playing closer to home.
- Plan errands to avoid unnecessary driving.
- Accelerate gradually-a smooth start uses less fuel
Burn fuel cleaner
- Keep your vehicle well-tuned and tires inflated properly to reduce exhaust emissions.
- Combine errands into one trip-cars pollute less when they are warmed up.
- Avoid idling-idling exhaust contains more pollutants than running exhaust.
- If you purchase a new car ask for a Low Emission Vehicle or LEV (see under hood sticker)
Burn cleaner fuel
- Low-sulfur gasoline (available in the Twin Cities) reduces pollutants by 10-15%
- 85% ethanol fuel (E85) can be used in flexible fuel vehicles.
- Other alternative transportation fuels such as natural gas a bio-diesel are most practical for fleets of vehicles.
- Alternative Fuels Information at a Glance - Energy Information Administration
- Alternative Fuels Information at a Glance - Energy Information Administration
Frequently asked questions
Question: I like to run in the early evening but a friend said that I'm doing more harm than good because that's the time of day when pollution levels are highest in the Twin Cities. Is this true? What is the best time of day to run? And does it make a difference if I run on a parkway away from lots of traffic, or are pollution levels general all over the Twin Cities? What are the health risks?
Signed,
Huffin N. Puffin of Mpls.
Answer: Our advice is to get plenty of exercise and try to do it as far as possible from pollution sources. In general the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks of added pollution inhalation for most healthy people, given certain precautions.
To inform the public about the quality of the air and potential health risks, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency posts a daily "air quality index" (AQI) on our web site. The AQI is based on measurements of pollutants in the air. Occasionally the right mix of weather and pollution will result in an elevated AQI and the MPCA will suggest restrictions on outdoor activities such as running.
While such events are infrequent, occurring only a couple times in the last decade, the air in the Twin Cities is not as clean as we'd like it to be. Pollutants in the air are causing heart and breathing problems at current levels, especially in sensitive populations such as people with asthma or heart disease and the elderly.
It is true that, in general, air pollution levels tend to be lowest in the early morning and highest in the late afternoon. It is also true that pollution levels are higher near roads, industrial and some commercial establishments compared to the overall levels. So it is better to exercise away from these types of pollution sources. For roads, the more traffic, and the more diesel vehicles, the worse it is. The farther away from sources of pollution, the lower the concentrations will be. Wind direction and speed will also effect the concentrations-being up-wind from the source is better than being down-wind from the source.
Finally, it is true that, at a given level of pollution, a person will take in more air and pollutants when exercising. The MPCA is not aware of studies that compare the relative risks of not exercising and thereby taking in less pollution vs. exercising and taking in more pollution.
There are plenty of studies that show exercising has enormous health benefits, and undoubtedly some of these studies involved people who lived in major metropolitan areas, so one might infer that the benefits of exercise may outweigh the risks of added pollution inhalation. However in the absence of studies we would have to say that not all the facts are in on that issue.
More information and assistance
For more information about motor vehicle pollution, Mark Sulzbach at 651-757-2770.
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