Greg Evans, professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto, is co-leading an international research partnership to investigate the health impacts of non-exhaust vehicle emissions — particles released from brakes, tires and road wear.
The consortium, known as NEXUS, brings together experts from 17 universities across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia, alongside eight public and industry partners. Funded for five years by the UK Medical Research Council, the partnership will build research capacity and deliver evidence to guide health policy and the development of cleaner vehicle technologies.
“Non-exhaust emissions are an emerging global issue,” says Evans. “A typical car emits roughly five kilograms of brake and tire material into the environment each year. While these emissions remain largely unregulated, studies have already detected tire-derived antioxidants and brake metals in fish. What we don’t yet know is how they impact human health.”
Building an International Network
Evans is one of three co-leads on NEXUS, alongside Chris Griffiths (University of Oxford) and Ian Mudway (Imperial College London). His expertise stems from years of work on air quality through the Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research (SOCAAR) at U of T.
SOCAAR specializes in using advanced instruments and data mining to measure urban air pollution exposure — expertise that will play a key role in NEXUS projects. The partnership will also support international collaboration through graduate student and postdoctoral exchanges, as well as public, government and industry engagement.
Why Now?
With improvements in combustion technology and the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), tailpipe emissions are declining. At the same time, rising consumer demand for heavier vehicles — such as SUVs, pickup trucks and EVs themselves — has driven up the release of non-exhaust particles, which now often exceed exhaust emissions in cities.
“This research connects with our work on subway air quality, where non-exhaust emissions are the major source,” Evans explains. “NEXUS will help us understand how these particles affect people and guide the creation of regulations and new technologies with lower emissions.”
Goals and Impact
Over the next five years, NEXUS aims to:
- Establish research priorities on non-exhaust emissions.
- Elucidate their potential health effects
- Launch pilot projects across disciplines.
- Build a sustainable international network to address this emerging environmental issue.
The team also hopes to influence policy. Europe has already introduced the first regulations limiting non-exhaust emissions, and Evans sees opportunities for Canada to follow suit.
“The potential benefits are significant,” he says. “We can help shape regulations in Canada and give Canadian companies a head start in creating vehicle technologies that provide a competitive edge when similar regulations are implemented globally.”
Looking Ahead
For Evans, the work is both professional and personal. Having transitioned to electric vehicles years ago, he has noticed an increased need to replace tires compared with past vehicles. “This bothers me,” he admits. “I hope that through NEXUS, and the changes it enables, we’ll be able to mitigate this.”
Beyond its initial five-year funding, Evans envisions NEXUS laying the groundwork for large, multinational, multidisciplinary research proposals. Communication will be central, with results shared through social media, webinars, reports, journal publications and a forthcoming LinkedIn page.
Opportunities for Engagement
Students and faculty at U of T can stay connected as NEXUS develops. The initiative will create opportunities for research exchanges, collaborations across sectors, and public engagement activities.
“The convergence of people from industry, government, NGOs, health, medicine, chemistry and engineering is the best way to implement and lead positive change,” says Evans.