Non-exhaust emissions come from wearing down motor vehicle brake pads, tires, roads themselves, and unsettling of particles on the road. This particulate matter is made up of

micrometre The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer ( American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of ...

-sized particles and causes negative health effects, including

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and

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. Very fine particulate matter has been linked to cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that non-exhaust emissions from vehicles can be greater than exhaust gas emissions.

Types of emissions

*Brake wear gets released into the air as particulate matter averaging 12-17 milligrams per vehicle per kilometer. *Unsettling particles on the road get released into the air averaging 8-12 milligrams per vehicle per kilometer. *

Rubber pollution Rubber pollution, similar to plastic pollution, occurs in various environments, and originates from a variety of sources, ranging from the food industry processing chain to tire wear. Synthetic and natural rubber dust and fragments now occur in fo ...

gets released into the air averaging 2.3-3.3 milligrams per vehicle per kilometer. *The road itself wears and releases particulate matter into the air.

Ways of reducing emissions

Better regulation of tires has been suggested. Lighter vehicles pollute less.

Electric and hybrid vehicles

Electric vehicle An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. It can be powered by a collector system, with electricity from extravehicular sources, or it can be powered autonomously by a battery (sometimes c ...

s and

hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle is one that uses two or more distinct types of power, such as submarines that use diesel when surfaced and batteries when submerged. Other means to store energy include pressurized fluid in hydraulic hybrids. The basic princi ...

s with regenerative braking still unsettle particles on the roadway and give off rubber and road pollution, and do so at a higher rate than lighter internal combustion vehicles, but do not emit the same level of brake wear compared to vehicles of the same type.

Regulatory agencies and policies that target exhaust emissions

Very few agencies are charged with implementing exhaust emission standards for non-exhaust emissions. Most policies target exhaust emissions and do not regulate non-exhaust particulate matter emissions.

References

Air pollution Pollution Transport and the environment {{environment-stub

Types of emissions

Ways of reducing emissions

Electric and hybrid vehicles

Regulatory agencies and policies that target exhaust emissions

See also

References