Atlanta Takes Part in Multiple Efforts to Improve Air Quality and Commuting

The population of Metro Atlanta has more than doubled since 1982, bringing the

estimated total of residents to more than three million. Atlanta, being the hub city of the

South Eastern United States, is facing many air pollution and traffic congestion problems

due to the number of people driving automobiles everyday. The population increase

has feed the tripling of the system wide daily vehicle miles traveled. It has been estimated

that Atlantans drive approximately thirty-four miles a day, bringing the total yearly

vehicle miles traveled in Atlanta up to a staggering 45.7 billion. Residents are averaging

more than seventy- seven minutes in their vehicles, per motorist per day ; that is 1.7

billion hours per year being spent on the Atlanta roadways. These conditions have led to

the waste of 169 million gallons of gasoline per year in this city alone. All of this has

brought Atlanta to the rank of number two for the most air pollution from vehicles.

There have been many health and safety risks discovered that accompany such a high

volume of motor vehicle activity. The air quality in Atlanta is in desperate need of a

clean up. Fortunately there are several environmental groups such as the Clean Air

Force, Georgia's Environmental Protection Division, and the Clean Air Campaign along

with the Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia Regional Transportation

Authorities working to diminish traffic congestion and improve the quality of air in

Atlanta. Theses agencies have come up with many possible solutions in their efforts to

reduce Atlanta's traffic related problems. There are also multiple every day practices we

as residents can do on our own to help with their efforts.

A significant amount of air pollution is attributed to petroleum dependent

automobiles.

(2)

The emissions being produced by these vehicles contains a number of harmful toxins.

The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that over half of all Cancer related

deaths could be caused by these emissions. These toxins are entering the

bloodstreams of all that come in contact via nasal passages, the mouth, skin and even the

digestive tract. In turn our blood is carrying these poisons to all of the bodily organs

causing potentially severe damage .Some of these toxins include Carbon Monoxide,

Nitrogen Dioxide, Formaldehyde, Sulphuric Dioxide, and Benzene. All of these

Pathogens have well known negative effects on the human body.

Nitrogen Dioxide is known to lower resistance to respiratory infections. Many people

exposed to it develop acute Bronchitis, Pneumonia, and chronic lung impairment.

Sulphur Dioxide has similar effects such as Emphysema and the amplification of pre-

existing respiratory illnesses, as well as inflammation of bodily tissues. Carbon

Monoxide, which is produced from the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials

such as gasoline, are akin to that of suffocation. It binds to the hemoglobin to distort the

release of remaining oxygen to bodily tissues. This can exacerbate cardiovascular

disease. Another toxin found in automobile emissions is Benzene. This has been linked to

diseases such as Lukemia and Lymphoma. It has a suppressive effect on bone marrow

diminishing it along with blood cells. It has also been found that Benzene induces DNA

strand breakage. These pollutants stimulate the immune system to release agents which

can cause tissue damage, especially in cells lining the blood vessels. The prime targets of

these pathogens are the central nervous system and the respiratory tract, however, .

(3)

Hypertension, Ischemic heart disease or cardiac arrhythmias could possibly occur.

Other possible consequences are kidney or liver failure, and even damage to the fatty

acids in brain cells. Everything from Vertigo to shortness of breath to cognitive

dysfunction have been seen as symptoms of long term exposure to these substances.

Though some symptoms are subtle and flu-like in nature they could be early warning

signs to a more serious problem.

The State and Federal government have been spending billions of tax dollars devising

plans to help combat the increase of congestion on our roadways that lead to the

devastating amount of air pollution in Atlanta. One of these