Review of recent studies and policies addressing non-combustion particulate matter emissions from break, tyre and road wear
TML and NILU prepared a paper on non-exhaust emissions of particulates from vehicles for the European Environment Agency. This includes recent research on emissions, the role of wear in microplastics, and relevant policy measures.
For both road and non-road transport, emissions of major air pollutants from fossil fuel combustion decreased significantly over the past two decades, although both passenger and freight transport first increased and then remained relatively constant. However, the relative importance of non-exhaust emissions has increased. This includes particulate matter (PM) emissions from brake, tyre, and road surface wear.
Within the European Topic Centre on Air Pollution, Transport, Noise and Industrial Pollution (ETC/ATNI), contracted by the European Environment Agency (EEA), Transport & Mobility Leuven and NILU have prepared a working paper providing the following elements:
- An overview of recent studies/publications on (the improvement of) emission inventories related to non-exhaust particulate emissions from road and off-road vehicles.
- A brief assessment of how the relative contributions of exhaust and non-exhaust emissions have evolved over time.
- A review of recent studies/publications on the contribution of tyre, brake, and road surface wear to atmospheric emissions of microplastics. This included collecting data on the fraction of PM emissions that could be microplastics.
- A summary of EU and other policies developed, implemented, or planned to reduce PM emissions from brake, tyre, and road surface wear.
