8/8/2009

Health, Pollution and Safety
Lesson 4



Handout: Products of Combustion
Gasoline-powered vehicles contribute to
global warmer through the emission of
carbon dioxide.
 In 2000, new studies were released by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change that demonstrate the connection
between human-made greenhouse-gas
emissions, global warming, melting of the
ice caps, and a rise in sea levels.

With small numbers of vehicles in operation, their
impact on public health and the environment is
relatively small. But with large numbers of vehicles,
the problem grows.
In choosing new fuels for vehicles, we need to
consider the health and environmental impacts of an
ever-growing number of vehicles using them.
In 1999, the world population reached 6 billion; it is
expected to reach 9 billion by 2050.
In addition to the rapidly growing world population
is the even faster growth of energy consumption
taking place as standards of living rise throughout the
world, making it urgent to find ways to reduce our
use of fossil fuels.
AUTOMOBILE-RELATED
EMISSIONS




Large numbers of people live in areas
that do not meet clean air standards for ozone.
high atmospheric ozone—needed to protect us
from ultraviolet cancer-causing rays
low-level ozone is a respiratory irritant.
automobiles contribute directly to the
development of low-level ozone, a pollutant
with serious health effects, which threatens 107
million people in the United States.
1
8/8/2009
Group Activity and discussion
1. Identify the health effects
and environmental effects of ozone.
2. Identify various types of people who may be
concerned with health and environmental
issues, such as global warming, that are
related to our transportation system.
3.What would their chief concerns be?
4. Do you identify with any of the people on this list?
5.Which of these people are likely to live or work in your
community?
6.Who else in their community may have an interest in
AFVs, and what would their concerns be?
LEARNING HOW AFVS CAN AFFECT HEALTH, POLLUTION, AND SAFETY
In the fuel research activity for this section, teams will investigate the impact of
alternative fuels on public health and the environment.
In the chart called “Impact of Alternative Fuels on carbon monoxide emissions, it
compares the carbon monoxide emissions of various fuels to those of gasoline and
diesel.
Discovering health, pollution and
safety issues in our community
Read the handout “Health, Pollution, and
Safety: Guide to community Research.
 Discuss the questions at your table and
answer them in your notebook.
 Report a summary of your discussion to
the class.

LEARNING TO SPEAK ABOUT HEALTH, POLLUTION, AND
SAFETY
Fuel teams will use the questions provided in their “GUIDE TO FUEL
TEAM RESEARCH” to prepare a written report and a minipresentation lasting 5 to 10 minutes.
Carbon monoxide is a serious pollutant that interferes with the ability of blood to
carry oxygen. High levels of carbon monoxide are a special concern to people in
urban areas.
Identify the fuels that would increase (or decrease) carbon monoxide levels and
consequently increase (or decrease) the associated health problems. If high carbon
monoxide levels were a problem in our community, which fuels would alleviate the
problem? Which fuels would make it worse?
How would the widespread use of electric vehicles affect air quality in our region?
2
8/8/2009
After the presentations
Compare the fuels and discuss the
advantages and disadvantages of each
regarding its effect on emissions, health,
and other environmental issues.
Decide if the fuels would ease (or worsen)
the health and environmental problems
important to our community
3