Electric cars are becoming a larger symbol of status among environmentally sensitive people around the world. However, a new research argues that electric vehicles (home) are not as environmentally friendly as they appear.

Southampton University researchers found that brake pads, which are widely used in electric vehicles, produce more toxic emissions than diesel exhaust fumes. These particles, 30 times smaller than the diameter of human hair, can slide through the airways to reach the most sensitive tissues of the lungs. In other words, electric vehicles can cause fatal air pollution, even if they do not release any gas from their exhaust.

Researchers also say that the majority of vehicle emissions in Europe are caused by non -exhaust pollution. Başyazar James Parkin, “People often think that pollution caused by cars comes from exhaust pipes and electric vehicles are zero emissions,” he says and continues: “However, electric vehicles, roads, tires and brakes still produce particles because of the friction and erosion.”

One of the most attractive features of electric vehicles compared to diesel or gasoline vehicles is that they do not produce any emissions during driving. A fully electric vehicle does not burn fossil fuel, so it does not spread CO2, nitrogen oxide or other toxic compounds. However, while research usually focuses on exhaust emissions, particles are released through tire, road and braking. Although the legislation regulating these emissions is often not available, these emissions for “particle pollution” in many regions can be these emissions and the largest factor among them is the brake powder.

When you press the brake, the vehicle’s brake pads apply pressure to the brake disc, and the brake disk slows down the tool by converting kinetic energy into heat through friction. The intense energy that occurs during this process erodes the surface of the brake pad and forms a cloud of very thin particles.

Toxic effects of brake pads

Dr. “We wanted to understand how the chemical compositions of different types of pads affect the toxicity of the spread particles and what it means for the health of individuals,” Parkin says. The researchers included four different types of brake pads, low metallic, semi -metallic, asbestos -free organic and hybrid ceramics.

Dr. Parkin and his colleagues simulated the cells taken from the inner surface of the lung in the laboratory to various emissions and simulated what would happen if these particles are inhaled. They found that the lung cells exposed to these particles were exposed to oxidative stress and inflammation and even died. If these cells were in sensitive air pouchs that allowed the gases in the lungs in the lungs, they could have caused serious health problems.

The most harmful brake pads were organic linings made of copper fiber, glass fiber, rubber, graffiti and resin and found as standard in most modern vehicles. Researchers found that the emissions produced by these pads are more toxic than diesel exhaust smoke. The second most toxic ones were ceramic pads containing a high rate of copper.

However, Professor Roy Harrison from the University of Birmingham, who did not participate in the research, says that he could be early to reach significant results: “Studies on human populations have not shown an exceptional toxicity, only toxicity associated with the exceptional exposure to fine particles was seen. The emissions of braking abrasion particles coming out of electric vehicles thanks to regenerative braking are traditional much less than gasoline and diesel vehicles. “