How much CO2 is emitted per minute by a mid size car ( in USA) while idling in a traffic jam ?

Question

I am a high school student and every day, there is a big traffic jam around my school during the school start and end times. I want to quantify the effect of emmissions from all the cars and invesitage how much impact it causes on those who walk/bike to school under these circumstances.

Answer 1

Sounds like an interesting science project.

First, is getting an understanding of what the bad things are that are put out by Internal combustion engines- not just CO2.

Talk to you high school science teachers, and if you have an auto shop, talk to them.  Use them to help size the pollutants, and at what level this becomes a health problem for teenagers.

Then look at the cars for what year and model they are, and how long they average idling.

Do some mathematics and calculate what the total pollutants are by type, then multiply by school days.  multiply by number of schools in your town.

Compare that to your schools buses, walking, bicycling.

(high concentrations of diesel emissions and ozone cause pretty bad respiratory problems, potentially permanent)

you may be on to something.

Answer 2

It depends on the year of the vehicle, and the emission components it is equipped with.

Answer 3

I'm not sure where you're at, but if there are any environmental companies in your area, ask for their help.  Monitor the CO2 levels when there are no cars around to establish a baseline.  Then monitor during the rush hour, choosing points where kids are likely to be exposed, like right at the dropoff point, congregation points, school entrances.  You'll probably want to do it over several days, to account for wind conditions and variability.

Use the accumulated data to compare against published findings on long term CO2 exposure data.  Keep in mind that the exposure times are pretty short in duration, though.  You're looking at a relativley few minutes of exposure.  Toll booth operators have consistent exposure over years and I know there are studies about their health consequences.