Changing the exhaust of a British car on the right side could dramatically cut roadside air pollution

According to a new study published in ACS ES&T Air, if the car is located on the right side, the harmful air pollutants on UK pavement produced by diesel vehicles could be reduced by a third.

The study, led by York University, reveals that passenger cars with exhaust pipes on the left contribute to curb contamination concentrations 40% higher than the displacement on the right.

Researchers used advanced “plume regression techniques” to understand factors that influence nearby road traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in urban environments. These methods allowed the concentration of contaminants, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOX), to be modeled under different conditions, leading to the discovery of surprising differences based on tailpipe position.

Curb contribution

Researchers calculate that if all diesel vehicles in the UK have exhausts in the right position, they will reduce the curb contribution to NOX contamination levels from these vehicles by a third.

The findings are particularly relevant in the UK, with only 20.1% of diesel passenger cars, the main contributor to NOX emissions, exhausts located on the right, with the farthest side from the country’s curb driving the left side.

In the unexpected discovery, the study revealed previously unrealized electric vehicles (EVs). Beyond zero tailpipe emissions, the EV has been found to actively dilute the exhaust plumes of nearby fossil fuel fuel vehicles. This phenomenon is caused by turbulence caused by vehicles and helps effectively reduce short-range trap exposures for pedestrians and cyclists.

A big impact

Professor David Carslaw of the Department of Chemistry at York University, the lead author of the study, said:

“Data on tailpipe placement offers specific and relatively simple changes that manufacturers can implement to reduce roadside pollution. Furthermore, the “accidental” advantage of EVs diluting existing pollution adds another compelling reason to accelerate adoption. ”

To get a detailed understanding of the quality of the air near the road, researchers used a recently developed method of rapid measurements on roads. This allowed us to analyze in detail how factors like engine displacement from the vehicle, their exhaust factors, and how they move through the air, all play a role in what pavement users are exposed to.

“This study highlights the complex connections between all the different factors that affect the air quality of our cities,” Professor Carslaw added. “And that’s important because it gives us a new way of thinking to tackle the health challenges we face from traffic pollution.”