Car fumes cause as much pollution as bushfires

Sydney, May 31 (ANI): New air quality figures have shown that car fumes caused as much pollution as bushfires in Australia in 2010.

Data from the federal government's National Pollutant Inventory reveal that it was a close-run race between the two, reports the Sydney morning Herald.

While motorists pumped out 2.0 million tonnes of highly poisonous carbon monoxide into the atmosphere in 2010, it lagged behind - just - by the 2.1 million tonnes of carbon monoxide produced by wildfires and the fuel reduction burns used to minimise their impact.

Bushfires also accounted for a big environmental slug, producing 240,000 tonnes of smoke. Motor vehicles were also generally being much less friendly to the environment than fire.

Meanwhile, roads, rivers and barbecues also did their bit to hurt the environment.

Recreational boating also took its toll in 2010, although it made a less significant splash overall. (ANI)