Pollution removal technology could remove 99% of traffic pollutants

Pollution removal technology could help remove 99% of pollution created by vehicles sitting at junctions, crossroads and traffic jams.

Pollution Solution has created a system of air suction pods, which ‘pull in’ any pollution created by vehicles.

The technology works by installing a series of partially submerged pods in the centre of a road that is a known hot spot of air pollution.

These pods are connected under the road to pipework which then extracts the polluted air into a roadside cleaning unit.

The air that then leaves the cleaning unit is cleaned by 99%, removing particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and ozone.

According to Thomas Delgado, CEO of Pollution Solution, the pollution pods look a bit like cats’ eyes in the road and can be used as line-markings.

Mr Delgado said: ‘It is time for the government and local authorities to take real action.’

‘There are around 40,000 new cases of people around the country suffering from serious pollution-related illnesses every year due to UK road-based pollution along, and shockingly, at least 9,000 people die prematurely in the UK alone.’

‘The consequences of poor air quality are tragic, but we can change this very quickly.’

According to Mr Delgado, the implementation of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the increasing use of electric cars is not having the impact that everyone thinks, he said: ‘Clean Air Zones have been trialled in many regions around the world, the most notable was in Paris which proved they were just moving the problem from one area to another.’

‘Electric cars are great, but as it stands today, they are not a feasible option for the majority of consumers or companies and air quality needs to be improved now.’

‘There are talks of banning the sale of fossil-fuelled vehicles by 2040, but if we don’t take steps in interim, like implementing the Pollution Solution in towns and cities, it is inevitable that at least 200,000 people will die unnecessarily.’

Earlier this month, City Hall has published a report on the first six months of the ULEZ, which shows it’s delivering some promising outcomes in cutting air pollution.

Quarterly averages reveal that levels of NO2 on roadside monitors have fallen from 89 µg/m3 in January to March 2017 to 57 µg/m3 in July to September 2019, a reduction of 36%.

According to the report, there are now 13,500 fewer polluting cars being driven into central London every day, with 77% of all vehicles now in the zone meeting ULEZ emissions standards.

Photo Credit – Pixabay