Measurements of Tire and Roadway Dust Particulates in Chelyabinsk

Harmful emissions from tire wear and roadway wear are released into the air during the operation of vehicles. Particulate road dust contains carcinogenic substances. The amount and dispersion of particulate matter in road dust was determined with a portable laser particle counter. On asphalt roads, 75% of the harmful emissions were 0.3 µm particulate matter. On dirt roads, 95% of emissions were from particles less than 1 µm. The amount of large fractions of harmful emissions did not exceed 1.5%, regardless of traffic intensity. 30 m from the roadway, the concentration of harmful substances reduced by five- to sevenfold. By 2030, the number of vehicles in Chelyabinsk will increase by 25%. This will increase the amount of harmful emissions from tire and roadway wear by 20 tons per year.