Idling Impacts

Vehicle Exhaust is One of the Leading Sources of Air Pollution in Utah

While sitting in an idling vehicle, drivers are exposed to higher levels of vehicle pollution than when the vehicle is in motion because exhaust enters the cabin.

Emissions from vehicles contain Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are prime ingredients in the formation of Ozone and Particulate Matter (PM). They are a major source of air pollution in Utah. Like driving, idling releases emissions into the air, but unlike driving, idling is unnecessary.

Vehicle Exhaust is Hazardous to Human Health, Especially Children's

Children's asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust.

Auto exhaust emits pollutants into the atmosphere as well as your vehicle. The smallest pollutants can lodge deeply into the lungs and cause lung damage and aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Studies have linked pollution from vehicles to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, and asthma.

Exposure to most vehicle exhaust is much higher inside vehicles than at the roadside. Children, whose lungs are still developing, breathe more rapidly and inhale more pollutants per pound of body weight than adults. Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization for children under the age of 15. Asthma is also the most common chronic illness in children and the cause of most school absences.