Critics of electric vehicles sometimes try to dismiss them as being only for “tree huggers,” but such commenters seem to be overlooking some critically important facts.
Many of the emissions from gasmobiles are toxic. They contribute to human health problems and numerous premature deaths each year. Heart disease, cancer, asthma, and stroke are some of the worst of human diseases and toxic air pollution is often a factor in these diseases, especially if you live in or near a densely populated area.
Brain diseases can now also be added to the list. “Some of the health risks of inhaling fine and ultra fine particles are well-established, such as asthma, lung cancer, and, most recently, heart disease. But a growing body of evidence suggests that exposure can also harm the brain, accelerating cognitive aging, and may even increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.”
That lung cancer risk is raised by air pollution exposure probably doesn’t surprise a huge number of people, but overall cancer risk is too. “Air pollution doesn’t just increase the risk of lung cancer, new research shows. A study of thousands of elderly people living in Hong Kong showed that long-term exposure to pollution from tiny but toxic air particles increased their risk of dying from any cancer by 22 percent.”
Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in the US and, again, air pollution can play a role in their development. “A new academic study led by UCLA researchers has revealed that the smallest particles from vehicle emissions may be the most damaging components of air pollution in triggering plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.”
Read more: Clean Technica