Blog 9: Smoking in cars produce harmful pollutants

     Smoking during car journeys produce harmful particulate matter that travel into the indoor air space that are at levels that pass World Health Organization guidance even when the window are wide open.  Dangerous exposure like that are most likely to have an affect on any child passenger.   Researchers did a research on fine particle matters that were found in the rear passenger area during car journey made by smokers and non-smokers over the span of three days.  Measurements were taken by using an aerosol monitor that access second hand smoke exposure and the equipment is place at the child's head height.  After the research there were 17 driver, 14 were smokers and they made 104 journeys in total.  Particle matter levels were found in 83 out of the 104 journeys. They averaged about 7.3 m3 during the non-smoking journeys but  85 m3 during the smoking journeys which is 10 times as much.  The levels of particle matter was associated with the amount of cigarettes smoked.  During the experiment 5 people said they smoke 20 cigarettes a day, 7 smoked 10-19 a day, and the rest smoke 10 or fewer.  Most smokers roll down the window to get some ventilation but the particle matter still goes beyond the limit of the World Health Organization of 25 m3.  Second hand smoking is the cause of some children's health problems such as sudden infant death,  asthma, and middle ear disease.  Children are at greater risk of second hand smoking due to their fast breathing rate,  and their less developed immune system.  Several countries like South Africa, Canada, Untied States, and Australia have stated to introduce a state or national legislation to ban smoking in car in which children are passengers.
     After reading this article, I really never realized how dangerous second hand smoking was to small children.  The impacting to that second handing smoking have towards children can be life threatening or cause a serious disease.  I completely agree when the article mentioned several countries such as South Africa, Canada, Untied States, and Australia introducing a national legislation in order to ban smoking in cars in which they around children and I believe even more countries should look to put this in affect to reduce the chances of children getting health problems or even dying.


Work Cited:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121015193632.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fearth_climate%2Fpollution+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Earth+%26+Climate+News+--+Pollution%29