Tackling the health impacts of non-exhaust road emissions

Non-exhaust emissions from brakes, tyres and road abrasion have overtaken exhaust emissions as the dominant source of particulate matter (PM) emissions from transport in Europe. PM is the air pollutant with the highest impact on our health, with transport one of the leading sources, particularly in urban environments where over 70% of Europeans live. Yet until now, non-exhaust emissions remain unregulated.

The zero pollution ambition and transition to clean and zero-emission transport are central to the European Green Deal. New CO2 emission performance standards and more stringent pollutant emission standards for vehicles will be presented later this year. Will non-exhaust emissions be included? What do we know about non-exhaust emissions and how to reduce them? What is their impact on other emissions and pollution from traffic? Is it fair to talk about zero emission vehicles without addressing non-exhaust emissions?

Our event during Green Week discussed the impacts of non-exhaust emissions on our health, particularly on marginalised communities, as well as some of the ongoing developments and opportunities on how their effects can be tackled through technology, EU regulation and action at local level.