Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey and Transport Minister
are leading a push to tackle
the impact of particulate and plastic pollution from brakes,
tyres and road wear.
While air quality has improved significantly over recent decades,
a new report published today (11 July) by the Air Quality Expert
Group (AQEG) calls for urgent action to address the problem
of tyres and brakes which is predicted to account for 10 per cent
of national emissions of PM 2.5 by 2030.
As outlined in its landmark Clean Air Strategy, the UK Government
is now calling for industry to support the development of
standardised methods for measuring emissions from these sources,
leading to a new international standard for tyre and brake wear.
It comes as the government also publishes the summary of
responses to its call for evidence on these emission sources,
which indicate that the problem is still poorly understood.
Calling on the automotive industry to consider action to
address the problem, Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey
said:
“The documents published today make clear that it is not just
fumes from car exhaust pipes that have a detrimental impact on
human health but also the tiny particles that are released from
their brakes and tyres.
“That is why an ambition of our Clean Air Strategy is to address
all sources of particulate matter, including those from
transport. Today’s research goes a long way in helping us better
understand the problem.
“Emissions from car exhausts have been decreasing through
development of cleaner technologies and there is now a need for
the car industry to find innovative ways to address the
challenges of air pollution from other sources”.
Transport Minister said:
“We are committed to reducing all transport emissions and
cleaning up our air. With record levels of ultra-low emission
vehicles on the UK’s roads, things are clearly moving in the
right direction.
“To continue this progress, we are looking for ways to reduce
emissions from other sources such as brakes and tyres. We are
engaging at an international level to identify how to measure
these emissions as well as aiming to develop standards to control
them.”
Each time a car is driven, tiny pieces of particulate matter such
as dust are released into the air from the brake wear, tyre wear
and road surface wear.
These particles enter the airstream having a detrimental impact
on human health for drivers, passengers and bystanders. Plastic
particles from tyres are also deposited into our sewers and lead
to harmful consequences to our marine wildlife and aquatic food
chains.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and
Traders, said:
“The automotive industry is committed to improving air quality
and has already all but eliminated particulate matter from
tailpipe emissions. Brake, tyre and road wear is a recognised
challenge as emissions from these sources are not easy to
measure.
“A United Nations global group, including industry experts and
government, is working to better understand, and agree how to
measure, these emissions. Maintenance of the road surface, as
well as further investment in new vehicle technologies, is
essential to reducing these emissions, without compromising
safety and we welcome further research in this area”.
While focus has previously been on tackling exhaust emissions,
this report offers the most globally comprehensive analysis to
date of the impact of brake and tyre wear.
The government is also due to shortly publish the results of a
new £200,000 research project with the University of Plymouth,
assessing the impact of microplastics from tyres and clothing on
the marine environment.
Industry innovation is one way to tackle the challenge and the
government is also advising drivers to consider how their driving
style can reduce emissions, with gentle braking, driving at a
consistent speed and using hybrid and electric vehicles with
regenerative braking some of the ways to play a part.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) is
an Expert Committee to Defra that provides independent
scientific advice on air quality.
Air quality has improved in recent years, with nitrogen oxide
emissions falling by 29% since 2010, and sulphur dioxide
emissions down 62%.
The estimated increase in national emissions of PM 2.5 by 2030
projected improvements in other sources of air pollution meaning
tyre and break wear will account for a higher proportion of total
emissions as a result.
