LETTER: Ban all those dangerous fumes
To the editor:
I’ve noticed that there’s been a lot of talk lately about making our campus a cleaner, safer place for our students. I cannot be more happy about this, and I hope action is swiftly taken to get rid of the worst threat to our health: car exhaust.
Whenever I’m walking around outside, I can’t help but notice that cars everywhere are emitting exhaust. Every time I cross the road to go to the HPER, wait at the bus stop, or even walk through a parking lot to get to my next class, I can’t avoid breathing in exhaust from cars and trucks. The problem is not so much that some people have chosen to drive their cars, but rather that they are driving in areas where people who have chosen not to drive are being forced to breathe in the exhaust. I’m not just worried about my safety, but also the safety of the children.
Edith Bowen Elementary school is situated right next to the busiest road through campus. They can’t even open the windows to their classrooms without the fumes from the road getting into the building. Car exhaust, especially in Logan where cars don’t have to pass emission tests, contains significant levels of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, benzene and heavy metals. It also contributes to the particulate matter in the atmosphere which causes the seasonal inversion and is very harmful to the lungs of children and adults alike, especially those with asthma.
It’s ironic that as an institute of higher learning, we allow something on campus that has proven to be so harmful to our bodies. The worst part is that we’re allowing it for no other reason except for the convenience of people who are too lazy to walk or ride their bikes. Car exhaust infringes on the rights of others, and that’s why personal vehicles should be completely banned from our campus (and preferably from the entire city). Some people might be concerned about compromising our freedom of choice, but they’re just being selfish. Our children’s future is at stake!
Marisha Parker