Suction technology installed in roads could help clean up Britain’s dirty air, a study has revealed.
Researchers at Swansea University found that Roadvent technology could help to reduce human exposure to road-based air pollution by 91 percent.
The technology works by actively capturing vehicle exhaust emissions and ultra-fine particles originating from tyre and brake pad wear.
Roadvent can be discreetly installed into roads to capture, filter and release clean air at the roadside directly below traffic.
Paul Lewis, author of the study and Professor Emeritus at the Medical School Swansea University, modelled various strategies for cutting NO2 levels.
The results found that alternative policies such as diverting HGVs and buses away from the area reduced emissions but would likely cause an increase in other areas. A “no-idling” scheme alone was predicted to be insufficient to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements.
Roadvent was found to significantly lower NO2 concentrations while causing minimal interference to the public.
The study comes months after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan expanded the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) to all 32 of the capital’s boroughs in a bid to reduce air pollution.
Polluted air is thought to contribute to up to 23,000 premature deaths each year. A study by researchers at University of St Andrew’s has found that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by higher exposure to air pollution.
NO2 is a harmful pollutant to human health which can be released by gas boilers and cookers. Evidence suggests it can cause shortness of breath and inflame the lining of the lungs, reducing resistance to infections like bronchitis.
Air pollution particles are inhaled into the body and can get into the bloodstream, causing damage to blood vessels and airways.
More than a million under-18s in the UK live in neighbourhoods where air pollution is higher than the recommended health standards.
Professor Paul Lewis, author of the study and Professor Emeritus at the Medical School Swansea University, said: “This study will be of significant interest to policymakers. The government is already collecting pollution data across many parts of the country that can inform strategic decision making on where new solutions such as Roadvent could be deployed. This research provides insights that can be replicated on a broader scale.
“The results of our comprehensive modelling go beyond just reducing NO2 concentrations; they can contribute to delivering positive change in the broader context of environmental responsibility and health.”
The technology has been pioneered by Pollution Solution, a firm looking to provide solutions to local authorities and private organisations who are looking to improve air quality.
