Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Truck pollution 
Name: Pleasant Lane
Status: Other
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Why do so may trucks have big black smoke coming out of them? Is that pollution?


Replies:
Yes, that black smoke you see is a form of pollution called "PAH" for "poly- aromatic-hydrocarbons" (which is basically just a fancy word for "black smoke that comes from trucks"). It may be hard to believe, but just because you can see and smell the fumes coming out of trucks and busses does not mean that trucks and busses pollute more than cars. One of the worst kinds of pollution from cars is completely invisible and has no smell at all - it is called "carbon monoxide" gas.

Mortis


Click here to return to the Environmental Science

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory