Question

Which one of the following chemicals in automobile exhaust can cause cancer?
A) Carbon monoxide
B) Polycyclic hydrocarbon
C) Lead
D) Oxides of nitrogen

Answer 1

Hint: Chemicals from the automobile have been a major concern for years now. It has become the cause of various respiratory diseases as well as cancer. CNG and LPG like other various less harmful fuels are a good alternative to save the environment as well as humans from various diseases.

Complete answer:
We are well aware of the pollution caused by automobile exhaust. Some of these pollutants may be harmful to the lungs and others may even lead to the lethal disease of cancer. Initially, these pollutants don’t cause harm but once they are present in a good amount they lead to harmful effects.

Carbon monoxide- It is a very poisonous gas, which is produced by incomplete combustion of fuel in industries, motor vehicles, kitchens, smoking, etc. When inhaled, it combines with haemoglobin and reduces its oxygen-carrying capacity. This leads to laziness, reduced vision and even death.

Polycyclic hydrocarbon- when diesel burns it produces two particles – soot and polycyclic hydrocarbon. These polycyclic hydrocarbons are carcinogenic in nature i.e. leads to cancer.

Lead- it is a very harmful pollutant of the automobile. This pollutes the water bodies and leads to harmful effects in humans causing behavioural changes and learning disability.

Oxides of nitrogen- they are formed mainly from nitrogen and oxygen during the combustion of fossil fuels at high temperature in an automobile engine. This contributes to heart and lung disease.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note:
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has proved that the exhaust from diesel particles are carcinogenic in nature.
- Oxides of nitrogen contributes to the acid rain by combining with water droplets to produce nitric acid and other acids.