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472 points Brajeshwar | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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lkbm ◴[] No.46218856[source]
> Particulates issued from tailpipes can aggravate asthma and heart disease and increase the risk of lung cancer and heart attack. Globally, they are a leading risk factor for premature death.

Minor nitpick, but tailpipes aren't the primary source of emissions. The study is about PM2.5[0]. which will chiefly be tires and brake pads. Modern gasoline engines are relatively clean, outside of CO2, though diesel engines spit out a bunch of bad stuff.

[0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s44407-025-00037-2

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throwawaypath ◴[] No.46218933[source]
How do EVs fare in this regard? Brakes are used significantly less, but the additional weight from the batteries chews through tires faster.
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lkbm ◴[] No.46219135[source]
I'm not sure, and I assume it will vary a lot by speed.

EVs do also have higher torque, so that may increase tire-based particles, but you're right that it avoids the brake pads for the most part.

Fewer cars in general is the win from congestion pricing, though.

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tart-lemonade ◴[] No.46219333[source]
>Fewer cars in general is the win from congestion pricing, though.

And lower VMTs (vehicle miles traveled) is also a win for the planet, it's probably the best weapon the average person has access to in the fight against climate change. Transit usage begets transit usage; more fares paid to the agency enables better frequencies and more routes, leading to more people opting to take transit instead of driving... In a well-run system, it's a positive feedback loop (and the inverse, where people stop taking transit, can also lead to a death spiral, as happened across America in the mid-20th century).

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oasisbob ◴[] No.46219503[source]
If we're speaking about individual actions, isn't avoiding air travel more effective than any other form of individual vehicle travel choice?
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1. pqtyw ◴[] No.46221144[source]
Is it? Planes still pollute a lot less than cars per same distance (unless you have 4-5 people in them)