You have probably heard of particles that pollute the air and damage people's health. One of their main sources is urban transport, both through tailpipe emissions and vehicle brake systems.       

Their very small size allows them to enter the lungs when breathing and they can even reach the bloodstream. Their name defines their diameter. PM2.5, for example, corresponds to 2.5 microns. We are talking about a size 30 times smaller than a human hair (about 70 microns). They are made up of soot, ash, metal particles from brake pads and discs, tiny fragments of tyres and pavement, etc. 

Applying innovative filtering solutions to reduce the impact of these micro-particle pollutant emissions generated by traffic is the basis of the European Aerosolfd project that we manage at the Innovation Agency. 

Aerosolfd is developing filters to be installed either in passenger cars and public transport vehicles or in semi-enclosed spaces, so that they contribute to improve air quality and prevent health-damaging "particulate matter" from being released into the atmosphere. 

In the case of vehicles, the focus is on the so-called "retrofit" solutions, which means that they can be applied to cars and buses currently in circulation. It is essential to ensure that they are cost-effective to install and maintain, and that they do not affect the performance, durability or warranty of vehicles. These improvements are being introduced in existing fleets as newly manufactured vehicles are already subject to high standards that limit the amount of particulate matter emitted. 

By the end of May, we had the opportunity to welcome in Valladolid many of the members of the consortium of this European project in which the City Council of Valladolid is a partner. Two intense days of work to update us on the progress of the project and for them to get to know our city on a tour in the tourist bus. 

The first day took place at the offices of the project partner Cartif, while the second day was spent at IdeVa before visiting the facilities of Auvasa (the city's third partner in the project). There we were able to see on-site the measuring equipment and air purifiers installed in the garages as part of this Horizon Europe initiative.