New investigation shows that the dust of brake pads can be more harmful to our lungs.
Exposure to air pollution is associated with about seven million premature deaths per year worldwide. When we think of urban atmospheric pollution, engines’ exhaust gas emissions are often pointed out as one of the main culprits – and rightly so, taking into account the results of previous investigations.
However, a new investigation shows that the Brakes’ dust It can be more harmful to our lungs.
The dust produced by road wear, tires and brakes, known as “not -related exhaust emissions,” are currently the main type of road transport emissions, exceeding exhaust emissions in many European countries. Of these, brake dust It is often the main taxpayer, but is not yet subject to regulation.
It is much less known about the potential health effects of brake dust compared to the dust’s gases of diesel escape.
James GH Parkin’s team laboratory cells that mimic the lung coating and exposed these cells to the dust of brakes and dust dusts from diesel engines.
The dust of the brakes revealed themselves significantly harmful For these cells in different measures that are associated with pulmonary diseases such as cancer and asthma. Interestingly, the removal of the copper of brake dust reduced these effects.
In the past, brake tablets contained asbestos fibers to combat overheating. But asbestos is strongly linked to lung diseases. The automotive industry today conceives new coatings for brake tablets, including organic tablets without asbestos (no), usually used in current vehicles.
The team compared the harmfulness of dust resulting from the wear and tear of different types of pads. Ironically, he found that the dust of tablets not, designed to replace asbestos containing, was the most toxic for pulmonary cells, compared not only with the dust of other types of tablets, but also with the dust of exhaust gases. of diesel.
Some of the effects on our exposed cells are related to diseases such as the lung cancera pulmonary fibrosis (lung healing), the asma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Previous investigations have shown that metals present in atmospheric pollution particles may have toxic effects. The team measured the content of metals in the different types of brake dust and diesel dust and identified a high copper content as the characteristic that defines the dust of the traveles of the tablets not.
The team also found that this copper could enter the exposed pulmonary cells. Interestingly, when these brake dust were treated with a chemical to neutralize copper, their toxic effects decreased. This suggests that copper is causing at least some of the harmful properties of this dust.
Almost half of all the air we breathe comes from the wear and tear of brakes and tires. Several studies by other research groups have concluded that exposure to high copper concentrations is associated with a deficient pulmonary function and a global risk of death.
Electrics are not perfect
There are a large number of evidence that demonstrates that dusts in suspension in the air are harmful to our health. Unfortunately, although the change to electric vehicles (VE) eliminates exhaust emissions, which include toxic gases and dust, will not eliminate the dust of roads, tires and brakes.
Studies indicate that, because they are tendentially heavier, electric vehicles can generate more dust not related to exhaust gases than gasoline or diesel vehicles – the zero emissions label is not clearly accurate.
Some are equipped with regenerative braking systems that allow the engine to act as a generator, slowing down the car’s speed. However, electric vehicles continue to be equipped with friction braking systems, which help to completely stop the vehicle, so they continue to generate brake powder.
The upcoming Euro 7 emissions standards, which will be introduced in November 2026, will set limits to the embodiment of brake dust, which could stimulate innovation in the development of new braking materials or dust retention mechanisms. They may also emphasize traffic to traffic and road conception to minimize the “window” and aggressive driving styles-both increase the emissions of dust of brakes.
New brake pad formulations may reduce the total level of dust emissions or can be designed to exclude toxic components, like what happened earlier with asbestos.
