Environmental technology firm Pollution Solution has unveiled its tested solution for capturing vehicle pollutants, which it claims can reduce human roadside exposure by 91%.
Roadvent is an in-road system designed to reduce human exposure to air pollution. Pollution Solution claims the technology offers a viable solution to improving air quality in cities, urban areas and pollution hotspots.
A series of controlled experiments was carried out at the first Roadvent installation at UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedford. Scientists from independent firm Cambustion UK reportedly verified the solution’s ability to successfully filter polluted air.
Last year, after a coroner ruled that Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s death was a direct result of air pollution, the UK government committed an extra £6m to local authorities to improve air quality.
Frank Kelly, professor at the faculty of medicine and chair of community health and policy at the School of Public Health and Battcock, Imperial College London, said: “Although progress has been made in reducing vehicle emissions in urban locations, hotspots still exist where traffic is idling or moving slowly.
“To date, there has been no effective way of removing pollution at roadside other than banning vehicles such as in the Clean Streets programme.
“Roadvent provides a promising viable alternative to banning traffic as the system sucks up pollution at the road surface before it can disperse to nearby pavements.
“Early tests of the system demonstrates significant reduction in nitrogen dioxide concentrations one of the major pollutants emitted from diesel vehicles.”
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A study completed by Public Health England (PHE) warned that inaction on air pollution could cost to the NHS and social care as much as £18.6bn by 2035.
The PHE research predicted there could be around 2.5 million new cases of coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, childhood asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, low birth weight and dementia in the UK by 2035 if current levels of air pollution weren’t addressed.
