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petrol produces 3 prominent harmful gases when burned in an internal combustion engine. * nitrogen oxides * carbon monoxide * unburnt hydrocarbons. carbon monoxide is a well known poison that replaces oxygen in the blood that results with the brain being starved of oxygen. nitrogen oxides are less well known, at high concentrations they can cause respiratory diseases but their biggest effect is that at helping to cause photochemical smog, a reaction that takes place in the atmosphere envolving free radicals, sunlight and NO2 gases that produce a very unhealthy fog such as which can be seen over Bejing. unburnt hydrocarbons are often carcenogenic. catalytic converters try to reduce the quantites of the first two by creating CO2 and nitrogen however CO2 is obviously a huge contributor to the well kown green house effect.

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17y ago

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