Question

how does more number of vehicles on the road add to water pollution

Answer 1

Answer:

Rising vehicle ownership around the world has resulted in greater traffic volumes on roads and associated traffic-generated pollutants. Vehicular traffic and, by implication, road surfaces are among the most important sources of pollutants to the environment, particularly the urban environment, and can have significant human and ecosystem health impacts. Research studies have confirmed the vulnerability of the population living near high-traffic areas, particularly the elderly. An equal concern is the uptake of trace metals by plants near road environments. Road surfaces also act as repositories for pollutants from other sources that can react with traffic-generated pollutants, leading to changes to pollutant characteristics, influencing their solubility, reactivity, bioavailability, mobility, toxicity and persistence. Pollutants deposited on road surfaces are incorporated in road dust. The primary sources of traffic pollutants are exhaust emissions, fuel and lubrication system leakages, component wear such as tyres, brakes and chassis and road surface wear. Traffic and road surface factors play significant roles in influencing the type, amount and rate of pollutant generation. It has been found that traffic congestion is more significant than traffic volume in terms of pollutant generation. The pollutant emissions from heavy-duty vehicles that use diesel are different compared to light-duty vehicles that use gasoline. Very wide ranges of trace metals and hydrocarbons are emitted into the environment as a result of fuel combustion and vehicle component and road surface wear. The metals most commonly originating from traffic activities include Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni and Zn. Pb is added to road surfaces by the accumulation in soils due to past usage of leaded fuels, as well as ongoing contributions from the wear of vehicle components and road paint. Among the hydrocarbons, poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are of most concern, as these compounds represent a significant class of suspected carcinogens. Used lubrication oil and incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, particularly diesel, are significant contributors of poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the environment. It is hypothesised that climate change-driven alterations to climate characteristics will influence changes to traffic pollutant build-up on ground surfaces and wash-off with storm water runoff.

Answer 2

One Quart of Oil = pollute a thousand Gallons of Water

Explanation:

• More vehicles will add up more pollution to the air
• The pollution from these emissions falls back to the earth and is transported by runoff, Stormwater runoff and groundwater into streams, lakes, and rivers

Vehicles affect water quality in the following ways -

1. Automobiles including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats leave oil, grease antifreeze, and metals on streets and roads due to the burning of gas
2. Other contaminants like nitrogen have also emitted that settle in water
3. Construction of road including the maintenance of impervious surfaces adds to water pollution due to faster rates of surface runoff and increased erosion
4. It is found that one quart of oil will pollute thousands of gallons of water as oil is not soluble in water hence it leads to threat for marine life too