Snow soaks up pollutants from engine exhausts

Scientists in Canada have shown that snow acts as a sink for nanosized particles and certain organic constituents from car exhausts.

Air pollution is recognised as a leading environmental driver of cancer deaths, which makes the fate of these toxic and carcinogenic aerosols from car exhausts important for informing changes in emissions and air quality regulations, and technologies, in countries with cold winters.

By using a snow chamber to decouple the effects of exhaust emissions from those of other interfering pollution sources, McGill University’s Parisa Ariya and colleagues have tested how freezing temperatures and snow affect exhaust-derived particles and organic pollutants.

This article provides a link to coverage by Chemistry World.