No legislation is currently in place to specifically limit or reduce particles from tyres. Photo: © Shutterstock – cla78

Action needed to cut PM from tyres and brakes

A recent report from the UK Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) warns about the increasing importance of non-exhaust emissions (NEE) from road traffic. NEE refers to tiny particles released into the air from brake wear, tyre wear, road surface wear and resuspension of road dust when vehicles are driving on roads. No legislation is currently in place to specifically limit or reduce these particles.

It is estimated that NEE particles currently constitute 60 and 73 per cent (by mass), respectively, of primary PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ emissions from road transport in the UK (7.4 and 8.5 per cent of all UK primary PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ emissions), and will become more dominant in the future. Achieving further improvements in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ air quality in relation to road transport sources will also require reductions in non-exhaust emissions, rather than simply focussing on lowering exhaust emissions, said the AQEG.

The report “Non-exhaust emissions from road traffic” published by Defra, 11 July 2019.
Link: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/reports?report_id=992

Air pollutionRoad traffic

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Main menu

Action needed to cut PM from tyres and brakes

In this issue

Not even 1.5°C is good enough

Editorial: IPCC Ocean and Cryosphere report is a powerful diplomatic asset

Capacity is no longer a reason for subsidies to fossil power

Increasing renewable energy targets for the EU

EU law instrumental for cleaning up power plants

Achieving a sustainable food future

Prompt climate action needed to ensure food supplies

Environmental impacts of ship scrubbers

Ship emissions debate continues

Six countries still breach binding air pollution limits

Global SO2 air pollution hotspots mapped

Swedish refinery at crossroads: 2X fossil future contested

Hydrogen choices

In Breif

UK aims for zero-emission ships by 2025

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Air pollution

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