Everyone knows that cars contribute to air pollution. And when most people consider the source, exhaust is usually what comes to mind. However, new research led by the University of Pennsylvania's Reto Gieré, working with collaborators across the world, is helping to illuminate another significant culprit when it comes to traffic-related air pollution: Tiny bits of tires, brake pads, and road materials that become suspended in the air when vehicles pass over.  An optical microscope image revealed in broad strokes the contents of roadside dust, including tire, brake, and road material particles and minerals from the surrounding environment. Credit: V. Dietze/ German Meteorological Service |
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