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

  • Finnish forest fuel source found efficient
    July 4, 2013
    Research carried out in Finland reveals that an innovative new gasification method can turn forestry waste into biofuel with less than €1/litre. The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland says that lignocellulosic biomass can be processed using new technology developed in Finland to transfer of more than half the energy of wood raw waste into fuel.
  • EU noise levels rising
    July 31, 2012
    The EU funded SILENCE project maps the transport causes and possible solutions for reducing noise, reports Alan Peterson With Europe's ever-increasing population growth, the issue of noise for its 100 million citizens is becoming a pressing problem. Over 25% are exposed to critical transport-related noise, according to research by the EU funded SILENCE project, which reported its findings in Germany in May. The purpose of SILENCE is to develop an integrated methodology and technology for the improved contro
  • INRIX redefines Traffic Data Analysis
    October 26, 2016
    INRIX, a global developer of car services and movement analytics, has launched INRIX Roadway Analytics, a set of on-demand tools to be available in Europe and the Middle East this autumn. It enables instant analysis of INRIX XD Traffic information via the cloud. The cost of infrastructure congestion is estimated at 1% of GDP across Europe. At the same time, research suggests that up to US$400 billion could be saved globally each year as a result of improving existing infrastructure through better managem
  • UK trialling hazard warning technology
    November 26, 2024
    Results from a project by the UK’s department of transport and AECOM – using Heads-Up technology from Acusensus, has underlined scale of distracted driving and lack of seatbelt use.