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

  • Significant diesel hybridisation trend in Europe
    April 30, 2012
    Over the last two decades, diesel engines have become more popular among European consumers, due to their higher fuel efficiency, lower CO2 emission values and fun-to-drive perception when compared to gasoline engines.
  • Finnish research body highlights hydrogen as future fuel
    May 7, 2013
    The Finnish VTT research body believes that hydrogen offers considerable potential as a future fuel, according to its latest study. The Finnish hydrogen roadmap has been compiled by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and partly funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes). According to VTT’s study, hydrogen fuelled vehicles will be as important as electric/battery types in minimising traffic pollution. The study says that transport applications for hydrogen are now close
  • Electric charging and battery strategy
    May 9, 2012
    Major developments are in hand with regard to providing charging solutions for electric vehicles. This has been seen as a barrier to the introduction of electric vehicles on a widespread basis but various manufacturers are now developing systems to deal with the issue.Siemens and BMW are working on an easy-to-use fast charging plug for electric cars. This system will allow sufficient charging for a 100km range in less than 30 minutes.
  • Electric charging and battery strategy
    February 29, 2012
    Major developments are in hand with regard to providing charging solutions for electric vehicles.