Study reveals: Particular filters do not protect against secondary fine dust!

Study reveals: Particular filters do not protect against secondary fine dust!

Current research from an international consortium under the direction of Professor Ralf Zimmermann at Helmholtz Zentrum Munich and the University of Rostock are revealing alarming aspects of air pollution through car exhaust gas. A study shows that the Euro 6D particle filters introduced in 2020 significantly reduce the direct fine dust emissions of vehicles, but are not sufficiently prepared against the formation of secondary fine dust. The latter is considered one of the main causes of health risks related to air pollution, such as the results of Uni-rostock.de occupy.

The study revealed that fleeting organic hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are converted into secondary fine dust by photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. Fine dust, ozone and nitrogen dioxide represent the main causes of air pollution-related health risks. The scientists have fresh and photochemically aged exhaust gases of a Euro 6D vehicle. While the fresh exhaust gases showed hardly any toxic effects, photochemical aging led to the formation of reactive oxygen compounds that caused both DNA damage and increased oxidative cell damage.

Latest developments in exhaust gas examinations

The concerns about the air quality and the associated health effects are additionally reinforced by new guidelines and tests. Since July 1, 2023, Euro-6 diesel has been subjected to a stricter exhaust gas test at TÜV. The diarrhea rose in the first few months to 3.43 % of the approximately 950,000 tested vehicles, which corresponds to an increase of around 42 % compared to 2018 to 2020, such as auto-motor-und-sport.de reported.

In particular, vehicles with a mileage of over 160,000 km often show problems, with the diarrhea rate in this category is 4.7 %. While only 0.72 % of the tested cars had an error in the exhaust system, the new measurement methodology updated the requirements and exposed many challenges with which manufacturers such as Ford, Mercedes and Volvo are confronted. Ford models in particular often show problems with the new standard, which already leads to a market surveillance process by the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

long -term effects of air pollution

The health effects of air pollution should not be underestimated. According to eea.europa.eu die at least 239,000 people in the EU due to fine dust pollution that goes beyond the WHO-direction value. By 2022, the number of deaths from fine dust fell by 45 %, but air pollution remains the largest environmental risk in Europe, especially in urban areas.

The EU aims to reduce deaths by 55 % by 2030 and undertakes to get closer to the standards of the WHO by new air quality regulations that are stricter and are closer. Nevertheless, the challenge remains, especially for noise and emission-contaminated urban areas, in which 62 % of the forests also exceed critical values ​​for ozone.

The new knowledge about the toxic effects of secondary fine dust and the increasing diarrhea rates for exhaust gas examinations illustrate how important it is to continuously monitor and adapt the air quality standards. Holistic solutions are required to protect the health of the population and to improve the quality of the air we breathe.