Skip to main content

Clean air solution to cut pollution

An innovative material is now available that could help absorb harmful airborne molecules and disperse cleaner air. The material has been developed by a team of leading Italian researchers and is being rolled-out across several European cities, including Rome and Milan. The material will be used on outdoor advertising sites in London and Italy. The launch of this material comes following a series of alarming studies warning about the dangers posed by air pollution to Londoners. Last week, a new stud
March 2, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Using the material alongside roads can help tackle exhaust pollution
An innovative material is now available that could help absorb harmful airborne molecules and disperse cleaner air. The material has been developed by a team of leading Italian researchers and is being rolled-out across several European cities, including Rome and Milan. The material will be used on outdoor advertising sites in London and Italy.

The launch of this material comes following a series of alarming studies warning about the dangers posed by air pollution to Londoners.

Last week, a new study commissioned by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, found that tens of thousands of children in 802 of London's schools are exposed to illegal levels of air pollution that can damage their health permanently. Similarly, a leading study conducted by Kings College London for 2387 Transport for London and the Greater London Authority, found that in 2010 dirty air contributed towards up to 9,500 deaths in London. The same study estimated the annual economic cost of these health impacts was equivalent to £3.7 billion.

According to Anemotech, The material’s inventor, it uses a series of nano-molecules and the local atmosphere’s natural air flow to remove harmful pollutants such as nitrous oxides, sulphur oxides and particulates. The material can be used for both indoor and outdoor purposes, including for office workstations, classrooms and public advertising spaces.  

The inventors claim that once the material is installed it can absorb high concentrations of air pollution within a 25m area. By installing 250m2 of the material over a one year period, The Breath’s inventors claim its impact on the environment is the equivalent of removing pollution from over 750,000 unleaded vehicles and 300,000 diesel cars.

Research into tests carried out at 1-4 Leicester Square in London by Universita’ Politecnica delle Marche in Italy last autumn have proved to be positive. Using these initial results, researchers at The Breath estimate that just two 10m² sheets of the material correctly positioned in the square over a one-year period could cancel out nitrogen oxide emissions from 5,475 diesel vehicles and volatile organic compounds emitted from 13,650 unleaded cars.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Telensa’s bright future after UK street lighting firm achieves 20% sales growth
    October 30, 2013
    Telensa, a leading UK-based ‘smart’ street lighting technology company, achieved sales of US$13 million and pre-tax profit of $2 million for the year ending 31 March 2013. The sales growth of just under 20% on the US$10.9 million achieved in 2011-12 is said to be the result of the company securing contracts from further UK street light contractors and local authorities for its PLANet (Public Lighting Active Network) wireless street light central management system (CMS).
  • Repair, recycling and warm mix technology at Italy’s Asphaltica exibition
    May 15, 2017
    As the name might suggest, the Asphaltica show in Verona, Italy was a good place to catch up on new ideas and applications for bitumen technology. Kristina Smith picked out a few highlights.
  • Duisburg double for lift specialist Sarens
    June 5, 2024
    Heavy lift specialist Sarens overcame challenging wind and water conditions during installation of two strategic road bridges - the Oberbürgermeister Karl Lehr Brücke and the Hafenkanalbrücke - in the German city of Duisburg.
  • VIDEO: Pasta-packing drivers should beware of lean-bean cyclists
    August 19, 2016
    Know your limits, especially if that inconsiderate cyclist has got you so enraged that you have jumped out of your car to chase him down the block. You want to teach him a lesson but, like the man in this video, you may end up learning one yourself. You’re too fat. Recognise the chances are slim that you - a car driver who, according to a new study, will be overweight – will catch that svelte bicycle rider. It could end in tragedy with you hitting face-first that urban-grade asphalt, feeling the aggre