Pollution from car brakes is worse for our lungs than diesel exhaust

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-02-14 17:00

International

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Fine particles from wear on car brake pads can have a worse effect on lung cells than what's emitted from diesel exhaust, according to new international research. Scientists exposed human lung cells to particles from brake-wear of four types of pads and diesel exhaust, and studied how each affected the cells. The particles from the two brake pad types with higher amounts of copper caused more inflammation, disruption to the metabolism, and other processes linked with disease, than particles from the other brake pads or diesel exhaust. The researchers say regulations on particulate pollution from vehicles should target both non-exhaust pollution sources and, given the risk of copper-rich emissions, what they're made of.

Journal/
conference: Particle and Fibre Toxicology

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Southampton

Funder: Wessex Medical Research PhD Studentship (JGHP). University of Southampton New Things Fund grant (JGHP). Leverhulme Trust PhD Studentship (NHCE). Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute PhD studentship (NHCE). Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Programme in Translational Immunology, Inflammation and Cancer (LE). Institute for Life Sciences PhD studentship (LE). Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard award (ML, HVR). Future Leader Fellowship (BB/P011365/1) and David Phillips Fellowship (BB/V004573/1) from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (ML). Senior Research Fellowship from the National Institute of Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (ML). Asthma, Allergy, and Inflammation Research Charity grant (AAIR charity) (ML)

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