What is Air Pollution? Air pollution is the introduction into

the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or biological materials that cause discomfort, disease, or death to humans, damage other living organisms such as food crops, or damage the natural environment or built environment.

Cars cause huge amounts of health-affecting air pollution. Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons are omitted from car exhausts and severely affect air quality. This deterioration in the air that we breathe can cause respiratory difficulties for some people. Smog, a mixture of smoke, gases and moisture, can also form in highly polluted areas, leaving a thick, fog like veil over the sky-scape.

While hybrid vehicles have become more popular thanks to rapidly increasing gas prices over the last few years, there are other eco-friendly vehicle options being researched and tested. Some options you may hear about in the next few years include compressed natural gas or CNG, also called "BioGas", ethanol, other biofuels and liquid petroleum gas. Electric vehicles are also making a comeback, with Chevrolet recently announcing their new "Volt".In Europe, so-called "Smart Cars" are

becoming popular. With their small, yet functional size and superior fuel efficiency, "Smart Cars" are a good choice for smaller European roads.

Scooters came into fashion in the 1950s and made that form of two-wheeled transport, at least, fashionable. Anything powered on two wheels will use less fuel than a car. The world of bikes doesn't bother much with alternative fuels. Motorbikes are better than cars too.Cycling is best of all, of course.

Many of today's newest trains are powered by magnet technology. Today's "green train" uses a permanent magnet motor, which is a modern engine technology that enables increased propulsion chain efficiency.

We make choices everyday that can help reduce air pollution. Below are a few ideas

that you can take to help clean our air.

TRY AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID CAR-Electric and hybrid cars help address local pollution problems - there are no local emissions when running on electric power. Electric have both electric and petrol power. This graphic shows how they work:

a) At very low speed the electric motor on its own can power a hybrid.

b)Going downhill or braking the wheels sends power to batteries

c)When idling at the lights the engine cuts out, so saving more energy

Plant deciduous trees in locations around your home to provide shade in the summer, but to allow light in the winter. Trees help to clean the air.

Save electricity!Don't leave your electronic devices - TV sets, computers, DVD's - on stand-by mode. Switch them off completely and you will save about 10 % of your electricity bill. Buy energy-saving light bulbs and "A"-labelled household appliances. Less electricity consumed means less power produced and fewer pollutants into the air from burning of fossil fuels.

Keisi Mecaj