Children could be at serious risk while inside a car from air pollution produced by vehicles, reveals leading scientist.
A former government chief scientific adviser has warned that cars are ‘boxes collecting toxic gases’ and can stunt children’s growth.
Professor Sir David King has issued a warning to parents and advised that they should walk their children to school and avoid driving them.
Air pollution, largely caused by car emissions, is most damaging and harmful to young children as their bodies are not fully developed.
Sir David King said the The Guardian: “Children sitting in the backseat of vehicles are likely to be exposed to dangerous levels [of air pollution].”
“You may be driving a cleaner vehicle but your children are sitting in a box collecting toxic gases from all the vehicles around you.”
‘The best thing for all our health is to leave our cars behind. It’s been shown that the health benefits of walking and cycling far outweigh the costs of breathing in pollution.’
Vehicles provide very little protection from deadly gases from exhaust fumes making them potentially dangerous.
On the other hand walking has a whole list of health benefits.
“The best thing for all our health is to leave our cars behind,” said King, who now advises the British Lung Foundation.
“It’s been shown that the health benefits of walking and cycling far outweigh the costs of breathing in pollution.
“If more drivers knew the damage they could be doing to their children, I think they’d think twice about getting in the car.”
There is legislation in the UK which bans people from smoking while driving if any of their passengers are under 18 and Sir David argues that the toxic fumes are just as harmful.
“So why are we still happy for our children to breathe in toxic emissions in the back of our cars?”.
This is not the first time that it has been revealed that drivers are at risk from harmful pollutants while driving and tests have been ongoing since 2001.
Toxic pollution is linked to 40,000 deaths a year in the UK.
The UK’s third air quality plan could also be rejected for not being good enough if environment campaigners ClientEarth’s chose to take further action against the Government.
Brussels has also warned that Britain could face fines if air pollution continues to breach EU safety limits.
Daily Express :: Life and Style Feed
