According to the WHO, nine out of ten people breathe polluted air around the world. Indoor and outdoor air pollution can lead to serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with fine particles being among the most harmful pollutants. Heating homes, industrial establishments and transport vehicles, including metro trains, are the main sources of these harmful particles.
Dr. Fulvio Amato, researcher at the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville, is interested in air pollution in the metro and its harmful effects on humans. With the installation of measuring instruments, it is possible to identify the role played by brake and wheel friction on the toxicity of the air in the underground and to reduce their impact. His work has been used to develop measures to improve the air quality in Barcelona's metro.