The inhabitants of Accra city are constantly being exposed to toxic chemicals. The source of these toxins is namely cars. The consequences of inhaling these toxins may be fatal.

Cars emit poisonous chemicals such as Sulpher Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Monoxide (NO), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and un-burnt hydrocarbons every time the engine is run. It has been scientifically proven, that inhaling these compounds causes damage to human health.

Breathing car exhaust gases is just as damaging as breathing in cigarette smoke. The majority of Ghanaians are aware of the dangers associated with smoking, and should apply these concerns to the inhalation of car exhaust gases.

At first, the patient may suffer from a mild irritation, a tickly cough for example, watery eyes. Over time, this may develop into something much more sinister like lung cancer, a life-threatening disease. Children may develop asthma, a condition, which causes breathing difficulties.

Not only are these pollutants damaging to individual health, but also to the environment. Sulpher Dioxide is responsible for acid rain, rainfall that can cause substantial damage to crops and vegetation.

As well as the poisonous compounds produced by car engines, non-poisonous Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is produced. CO2 is the root cause of climate change, which is of global concern.

Carbon Dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, and forms a "blanket" layer in the earth's atmosphere, thus preventing the sun's heat from leaving it. Since the heat is being trapped, the atmosphere is gradually heating up, an effect known as the greenhouse effect, which causes the phenomenon known as global warming.

If global warming is allowed to continue, then we will witness more freak weather conditions, such as draughts and floods and eventually the polar ice caps will melt, causing sea levels to rise and low lying countries to disappear.

To protect our own health, and the environment for generations to come, we must act now to reduce the amount of pollutants in the city air.

Strict guidelines need to be put in place, which do not permit cars that emit large quantities of pollutants, on the roads.

The MOT testing must be reinstated and made compulsory for all vehicles. New vehicles must be tested annually for their emission levels, and older cars twice annually. If the car is found to be producing too many pollutants, then they should be taken off the road.

Drivers failing to take their cars to be tested should incur a fine.

However, the best method of reducing pollution levels stills remains the most traditional: walk. Try and leave your car at home for making short journeys. This way, the environment benefits, as a little bit of exercise could do for you too.