How staying in traffic jams everyday could be slowly damaging your health

Majority of city dwellers especially in Nairobi, spend at least two hours every day in traffic jams, yet few are aware that this slowly degrades their health.
According to scientific experts, third world countries like Kenya where most vehicles on the road are poorly maintained, experience the worst air pollution from vehicle exhaust.
Cars emit dangerous gases that seriously lowers the quality of air, and it is worse during traffic jams and even worse when the vehicles in that jam are poorly maintained – which is the case in our country.
Traffic jams cause cars to use more fuel, which leads to emissions of dangerous gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen, compared to when cars move at expressway speeds.
Inhaling these gases while in traffic jam may cause respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Again, in slower moving traffic, poorly maintained vehicles, especially diesel engines, emit a lot of smoke due to incomplete combustion. The smoke contains very fine particles that deeply penetrate lungs and inflame the circulatory system, damaging cells and causing respiratory problems.
Children and the elderly are at special risk.
The same goes for people suffering from asthma. Chemicals in cars’ gas emissions can harmfully affect lung function and may stimulate allergic reactions and airway constraint for asthmatics.

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