In fact, up to 110 cars waiting an average of nine minutes each to pick up children produce approximately 215 pounds of car exhaust pollution per day at Salt Lake City's Emerson Elementary School alone.

Exhaust toxins are harder on the developing lungs of children than they are on adults, all the more reason driving parents should give their engines a rest while waiting for their children to get out of school, said Utah Moms for Clean Air member Nancy Schmaus.

Carrying placards with such slogans as "Young lungs at work," more than 70 children gathered at Emerson Elementary, 1017 E. Harrison Ave. (1365 South), on Tuesday to raise awareness of idling's costs.

Event organizer Schmaus said drivers shouldn't worry about wear and tear on their engine's starters, which is minimal over time.

"You'll save far more in fuel costs by turning off your engine, not to mention damage to children's lungs," she said.

Other findings of the Mom campaign include:

* Idling for more than 10 seconds consumes more fuel than restarting your engine.

* One hour of idling burns about one gallon of gasoline and gets zero miles per gallon. Idling creates avoidable pollution and wastes money.

* Modern engines need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving. Driving is the best way to warm up a car.