Aliz Szekeres

Msc. Environemntal Sciences

Research Topic Semester 3:

Break-ware Nanoparticles in the Urban Environment

Aim of research: To establish reliable data for current general and representative break-wear
composition, find marker elements to be able to identify break ware nanoparticles in the urban
environment.

Impact of research: More precise identification of nanoparticle origins encountered in urban

environments, more precise national inventory estimates of airborne particles from break ware.

OCAR Story Outline

Opening:

Airborne particles especially the PM 2.5-10 (particle diameter 2.5 um-10um) range show the highest
health risks, as these particles are in the colloidal range, where they settle into the lungs and can cause
various health problems either by chemical reactions on the lung cell surfaces or by physically irritating
the lung cells (silicosis etc). Nanoparticles could also propose similar risks as the behavior of elements in
the nanoparticle range can differ significantly from bigger size ranges (e.g. increased surface area to
volume ratio leads to increased reactivity). The health risks connected to this size range are also not well
known. Within the airborne particles in the environment a major contribution is from cars. These can be
devided into two different categories Exhaust emmisions and non exhaust emissions (NEE). As
regulations for exhaust particle numbers and composition is in effect, the EE emissions have significantly
decreased over the years, (x%) and are projected to further increase with stricter for seeable future
regulations and the more widespread use of electric cars (no exhaust emissions). Currenctly a larger and
larger fraction of airborne particles is originated from NEE sources which so far has not been in the focus
of attention of regulation. NEE major sources are tire-ware and break-ware particles as well as road dust
resuspension, but resuspension is not a primarily source thus we are not goning to elaborate this topic
further in this study. Tire-ware and brake-ware particle emissions contribute 50-50% in general to
airborne particles, but can vary significantly based on location. Highway vs. urban environments,
congestions, corss section point etc. (elaborate).

For regulatory pruposes it is important to establish representative inventories and estimates of

emissions of NEE sources . The current regulation is mainly based on research conducted in th 1950´s
and has not progressed with the technolog of newer cars and car wears.

To be able to estimate the emissions a critical step is knowledge about the general composition of brake-
ware. Further certain markers need to be identified in order to be able to quantify the amount of
particles found in the environment originating from NEE in particular from brake-ware.

My project would serve to establish the basics for further studies and regulations, such as identifying
possible markers to follow and identify particles from brake-ware.
Funnel-done

Challenge:

What is the general (representative) composition of break-ware used in cars in our environments.

Are there certain elements, elemental ratios that would enable us to identify if a particle found in the
environment originates form break-ware used in cars or not?

Action:

Collected generally used break-pad types, and tried to identify the metal composition of these pads.

Drilling into the pads to get metal dust acid digest it to find out about compositions.

Collected swipe samples from car tire rims (most probable place for brake-wear partiles to be found) to
see if the identified tracer metals /ratios are to be found in the most possible break-ware particle
sample. .

Resolution:

Up to the results of the study