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Publications

Journal Article Ppublish 1 citation

PubMed: 39421921 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c04126

Persistent Environmental Injustice due to Brake and Tire Wear Emissions and Heavy-Duty Trucks in Future California Zero-Emission Fleets.

Environ Sci Technol 58(43):19372-19384

Authors: Yifan Wen, Qiao Yu, Brian Yueshuai He, Jiaqi Ma, Shaojun Zhang, Ye Wu, Yifang Zhu

Affiliations

  • School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
  • Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
  • Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
  • School of Environment, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China. Beijing Laboratory of Environmental Frontier Technologies, Beijing 100084, China. Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China.

Abstract

The adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) offers multiple benefits for the climate, air quality, and public health by reducing tailpipe emissions. However, the environmental justice implications of the nonexhaust emissions from future ZEV fleets for near-roadway communities remain unclear. Here, we model the on-road fine particulate matter (PM) emissions across all California counties and assess the near-roadway exposure disparities at the census block group level in the Los Angeles County in 2050, when almost all passenger vehicles are projected to be ZEVs. We found that promoting zero-emission heavy-duty trucks generates more air quality benefits for disadvantaged communities than light-duty passenger vehicles. Persistent disparities in near-roadway PM levels, however, exist due to the remaining brake and tire wear emissions and increased truck traffic in disadvantaged communities. We recommend implementing fleet-specific ZEV policies to address brake and tire wear emissions and optimizing freight structures to address these persistent environmental justice issues in California.

MeSH

Air Pollution, Air, Environmental Health, Sanitation