Asphalt is estimated to be a greater environmental pollutant than our cars in the near future, according to a collaboration of German and American researchers demonstrated. Fine dust that is released during ‘evaporation’ of the asphalt appears to be harmful to health.
Scientists from the American University of Yale and the German Max Planck Institute have subjected asphalt to various test set-ups, in which the material was exposed to different temperatures and applications. It turns out that the asphalt ‘sweats’, releasing gas from the material. These asphalt gases contain particulate matter with the size of 2.5 micrometers, or one thousandth of a millimeter. This is not visible to the naked eye, but is nevertheless harmful to health. The hotter the asphalt is, the higher the emissions, with the researchers measuring a difference of up to 300 percent.
Nowadays, every possible way is being studied how we can make our society more sustainable. In addition, the car industry in particular is exposed to increasingly strict regulations that force manufacturers to accelerate the introduction of environmentally friendly models. However, the researchers argue that precisely because cars are becoming cleaner, the asphalt emissions will soon exceed those of the vehicle fleet. The relative impact of asphalt emissions will therefore increase, especially in cities, where infrastructure is growing fastest. The conclusion of the study is therefore that it is becoming increasingly important to look at making asphalt more sustainable.