The Editor, Sir:

I am expecting that this new legislative year will be filled with rigorous debates and that not only new but also relevant pieces of legislation will be passed in the Parliament.

In particular, I would like to see a bill passed prohibiting the use of poorly maintained or malfunctioning motor vehicles that emit dangerous pollutants that cause serious health hazards as well as environmental problems.

There are few things more repulsive than sitting in traffic behind a 'chimney' posing as a minibus.

Tissue damage

Research has shown that motor vehicles are the major source of urban air pollution, the three major pollutants being carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons.

Below are brief descriptions of the deadly effects of these gases:

Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas that reduces the flow of oxygen in the bloodstream and can impair mental and visual perception.

Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can also cause tissue damage. People suffering from cardiovascular disease are particularly at risk.

Nitrogen dioxide is known to affect the throat and the lungs; the main effects are emphysema and cellular damage that reduce the efficiency of breathing.

Hydrocarbons react with nitrogen dioxide in the presence of sunlight and elevated temperatures to form ground-level ozone, which can cause eye irritation, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath and can lead to permanent lung damage.

Regularly tuned and maintained vehicles emit 25 per cent less pollutants and older cars tend to pollute more than newer ones.

I am, etc.,

A. GENIUS

aldrane.genius@gmail.com