Why Traffic Jams Are Hazardous to Your Health

A new study from the University of Surrey in Britain has found that traffic jams not only test your nerves: they also seriously harm your health. The way the car's ventilation system reacts to prolonged standing in traffic jams, researchers say, increases passengers' exposure to toxic fumes by 76%.

The study found that when car windows are closed and the fan is on, exposure to pollution increases in the traffic jam because the air outside the vehicle is usually more polluted than the air inside. Turning on the fan draws the polluted air into the vehicle and causes pollutants to accumulate inside.

The findings also show that when vehicles stop at a red light, they go through several driving cycles: stopping, accelerating, and decelerating. Meanwhile, other vehicles are also stuck in traffic, releasing toxic fumes. These fumes take time to disperse, especially in urban areas, so they tend to accumulate near traffic lights.

What can you do to reduce the damage? The head of the research team, Dr. Prashant Kumar, says: "Whenever possible, you should reduce exposure to toxic fumes by closing the car windows and turning off the fan. It is also recommended to try to increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you in traffic jams or while waiting at a traffic light. If you must turn on a fan or heating, the best way is to recycle the air inside the car instead of drawing air from outside. Of course, improving the efficiency of vehicle filter systems in the future will also help."

Just to understand the extent of the risk, in 2013 the World Health Organization classified air pollution in major cities around the world as a cancer risk equivalent to smoking. In parts of Europe, the World Health Organization says, air pollution kills ten times more people than road accidents.