Non-Exhaust Emissions
Non-exhaust emissions are generated through the resuspension of road dust or road surface wear as the vehicle travels over the road surface; corrosion of vehicle components; or during the mechanical processes associated with driving such as brake, clutch or tyre wear. Although it’s generally assumed that vehicle exhaust emissions are the major contributor of atmospheric particles, non-exhaust emission sources may contribute significantly to urban particle concentrations. A number of studies have shown non-exhaust emissions can equal or surpass exhaust contributions.
Recent studies have shown an increase in the number of UK registered vehicles: almost 34 million vehicles were registered in the UK during 2007, an increase of 1.8% compared to the previous year (DFT, 2008). As vehicle volumes increase and further legislations are introduced reducing the impact of exhaust emissions, the problems associated with non-exhaust contributions will become more apparent.
Even with mounting evidence regarding non-exhaust emission contributions, there are currently no EU regulations in place to control non-exhaust emissions. This is partly due to the limited amount of information available regarding these sources and the number of uncertainties related to their emissions. This research investigates non-exhaust emissions to quantify their contribution to particle concentrations to provide a helpful insight into non-exhaust emissions for policy makers to assist in the production of evidence based policies and improve air quality. For further information regarding the research behind this project, please go the Research page.
Types of non-exhaust include; Brake Wear, Tyre Wear, Road Surface Wear, Resuspended Road Dust, Winter Maintenance and Corrosion of Vehicle Components and Clutch Wear.