Auckland road dust identified as major source of air pollution

A 13-year study conducted by the University of Auckland has identified road dust as a significant contributor to PM10 air pollution in Auckland. The research, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, analyzed air-quality data from three monitoring sites: Queen Street, Khyber Pass, and Penrose.

Researchers found that non-exhaust emissions—including particles from the wear of brakes, tyres, clutches, and road surfaces, as well as resuspended road dust—play a major role in air pollution. In certain analyses, the impact of road dust on PM10 concentrations was estimated to be larger than that of fuel emissions. Modeling suggests that a 1% increase in road dust can lead to an 8.8% increase in PM10 concentration.

Lead researcher Dr Mingyue Selena Sheng noted that while much attention is traditionally focused on reducing tailpipe exhaust, these non-exhaust emissions require urgent attention due to their impact on respiratory and cardiovascular health.