Improving air quality and public health

Hundreds of thousands of deaths can be avoided each year in Europe. How can this be done? By reducing air pollution caused by vehicle braking systems, regardless of the type of vehicle in question. The use of brakes causes the emission of fine particles, loaded with carbon and heavy metals, remaining suspended in the air. Tallano Technologies has responded to this problem by creating TAMIC®, the result of a decade of Research & Development. Thanks to this innovative solution, the emissions of fine and extra-fine particles can be reduced by more than 90%. Tallano Technologies is already working with the automotive and railway sectors to reduce the pollution linked to the braking systems of metro, RER, trains, and heavy goods vehicles.

Measuring less than 2.5 microns, fine particles are so small that they can penetrate the respiratory tract and reach the lungs directly. They are also so light that they do not fall to the ground by gravity alone. They remain suspended in the air, and they cause, in the short or long term, pathologies which go from the simple inflammation to the most serious affections and can be at the origin of many deaths. According to the National Agency for Public Health, in France, 40,000 deaths per year could be attributed to this ambient air pollution and people over 30 years exposed would have a life expectancy reduced by 8 years. The European Environment Agency (EEA) attributes approximately 300,000 deaths in the European Union of 27 to fine particles. Particulate matter, 40% of which comes from transport, is the most serious pollutant in Europe in terms of its impact on human health. 20% of particulate matter from road traffic comes from braking.

Public authorities have been sensitive to the issue of air pollution for many years. Measures have been taken at the national level, but also at the European level, to reduce harmful emissions. According to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), EU, national and local policies and emission reductions in key sectors have improved air quality in Europe, resulting in approximately 60,000 fewer deaths from fine particle pollution in 2018 compared to 2009. Continued implementation of environmental and climate policies across Europe is therefore key to these improvements. However, as the European Commission points out, despite improvements in air quality in Europe, all countries still suffer from air pollution. The future Euro 7 standard on vehicle emissions should therefore tighten the current thresholds and consider fine particles, both those emitted by engines and those caused by brakes.