Vehicular Pollution — Definition

Definition

Vehicular pollution is the release of pollutants associated with vehicle operation and the wider transport system. It includes exhaust emissions, evaporative releases and non-exhaust particles such as those associated with wear and road dust.

Some pollutants are emitted directly, while others form through atmospheric reactions involving emitted precursors. Assessing the problem requires identifying the pollutant, the source process and the exposed population.

A claim about one vehicle's exhaust is narrower than a claim about total transport emissions or urban air quality. Effective responses combine appropriate vehicle and fuel measures with transport planning, maintenance and verification of actual outcomes.