Air pollution, much of it driven by car use, is a major public health risk linked to millions of premature deaths and wide-ranging impacts across the body, with particularly serious consequences for children.
A growing share of urban pollution comes from non-exhaust sources of private vehicles such as tire and brake wear, which release fine particles and microplastics into the air, alongside ongoing harms from fossil-fuel combustion.
Most Of The Microplastics In Urban Air Come From Tires
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewinkless/2026/04/12/most-of-the-microplastics-in-urban-air-come-from-tires/
Wake up and smell the exhaust fumes – they’re making us sick!
https://www.croakey.org/wake-up-and-smell-the-exhaust-fumes-theyre-making-us-sick/
Air pollution above safe levels in 12 of 13 regions
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/06/06/air-pollution-above-safe-levels-in-12-of-13-regions/
https://newsroom.shorthandstories.com/the-invisible-killer/
Air pollution from cars killing thousands of NZers yearly
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/470457/air-pollution-from-cars-killing-thousands-of-nzers-yearly
Car tyres produce vastly more particle pollution than exhausts, tests show