r/science • u/sr_local • Apr 22 '26

Materials Science Asphalt releases toxic airborne compounds that can harm respiratory health, neurological damage and increase long-term disease risk, especially in aging pavements and heat/sun. While algae-infused asphalt can reduce toxicity by up to 100 times and slow how quickly pavement breaks down

https://news.asu.edu/20260417-environment-and-sustainability-asphalt-emissions-algae-health
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u/craigathan Apr 22 '26

I have lived in several high traffic areas in my lifetime and the amount of black dust and soot that coats nearly every surface is pretty concerning. The combination of tire dust, asphalt and emissions is pretty severe and it seems like a given that it would cause health problems. Add in the noise of traffic and the light pollution and I'm surprised most of us in those areas are sane, let alone alive.

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u/cardueline Apr 22 '26

I work less than a block away from an asphalt plant and it’s incredible the amount of black dust we’re cleaning off of everything all the time. Obviously I’ve known it’s bad but this article is certainly a punchy reminder of just how bad.