The UK Government is calling for action to tackle the impact of particulate and plastic pollution from brakes, tyres and road wear.
Each time a car is driven, tiny pieces of particulate matter such as dust are released into the air from the brake wear, tyre wear and road surface wear.
These particles enter the airstream, having a detrimental impact on human health for drivers, passengers and bystanders.
Plastic particles from tyres are also deposited into sewers and lead to harmful consequences to the marine wildlife and aquatic food chains, the government says.
Air quality
A new report published today (11 July) by the Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) calls for urgent action to address the problem of tyres and brakes, which is predicted to account for 10% of national emissions of PM 2.5 by 2030.
As outlined in its landmark Clean Air Strategy, the UK Government is now calling for industry to support the development of standardised methods for measuring emissions from these sources, leading to a new international standard for tyre and brake wear.
It comes as the government also publishes the summary of responses to its call for evidence on these emission sources, which indicate that the problem is still poorly understood.
The documents published today make clear that it is not just fumes from car exhaust pipes that have a detrimental impact on human health but also the tiny particles that are released from their brakes and tyres
Calling on the automotive industry to consider action to address the problem, Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “The documents published today make clear that it is not just fumes from car exhaust pipes that have a detrimental impact on human health but also the tiny particles that are released from their brakes and tyres.
“That is why an ambition of our Clean Air Strategy is to address all sources of particulate matter, including those from transport. Today’s research goes a long way in helping us better understand the problem.
“Emissions from car exhausts have been decreasing through development of cleaner technologies and there is now a need for the car industry to find innovative ways to address the challenges of air pollution from other sources”.
Microplastics
A United Nations global group, including industry experts and government, is working to better understand, and agree how to measure, these emissions.
Maintenance of the road surface, as well as further investment in new vehicle technologies, is essential to reducing these emissions, without compromising safety and we welcome further research in this area.
While focus has previously been on tackling exhaust emissions, this report offers the most globally comprehensive analysis to date of the impact of brake and tyre wear.
The government is also due to shortly publish the results of a new £200,000 research project with the University of Plymouth, assessing the impact of microplastics from tyres and clothing on the marine environment.
Industry innovation is one way to tackle the challenge, government says, and it is also advising drivers to consider how their driving style can reduce emissions, with gentle braking, driving at a consistent speed and using hybrid and electric vehicles with regenerative braking some of the ways to play a part.
