Owning a Car

Fossil fuel combustion is one of the most serious environmental pollutants in the world. Exhaust emissions are the primary cause of this, but pollution also comes from the evaporation of stored gasoline and other fuels. The less efficient a car is, the worse the problem becomes, because it consumes more gas and produces more emissions. Cars that aren't properly maintained can smoke or produce visible emissions. This smoke is caused by incomplete combustion, which releases toxic chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the air.

And the problems don't stop there. Old tires end up in landfills, where they're often burned, releasing more CFCs. People sometimes dispose of coolants, lubricants and other car products through the sewers, which empty into rivers or other water sources. These chemicals mix in with the water and end up in the fatty tissue of fish, then traveling on up the food chain. Talk about it!