Exhaust Fumes Worse Inside Cars Than Outside

After hearing from a mother who was convinced that her baby became lead poisoned by travelling in the car on the side of the leaking petrol tank inlet, we were interested to unearth the following article which appeared in The Age on 10/09/92.

A report compiled by Greenpeace from studies in USA, Britain and Europe says that people inside cars are exposed to far higher levels of pollution than cyclists and pedestrians. The levels of benzene inside cars were two to eighteen times higher than the levels outside. All levels of carbon monoxide were two to fourteen times higher, and the levels of nitrogen dioxide were 1.3 to 2.5 times higher. For carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide the levels exceeded the recommended safety limits. For benzene this is no safe level.

The pollution levels were increased by congested traffic lower speeds, older cars and faulty exhausts