As part of the Mayor's strategy to improve air quality in London, Transport of London will be trialling the use of dust suppressants at selected locations in the capital. These suppressants aim to reduce PM10 concentrations by binding dust to the road surface to prevent it from rising back into the atmosphere. In the first initiative of its kind in the UK, a trial will take place between Victoria Embankment and Tower Hill, and at Marylebone Road/Euston Road - areas that are at risk of exceeding EU limits. It will run for six months, from autumn 2010 to spring 2011.

Carriageways will be treated at night with a biodegradable saline solution, calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). When tested in Europe such dust suppressants were found to reduce emissions by 18-40 per cent. TfL will be assessing the impact of the trial and will report in Autumn 2011.

Further details can be found on TfL’s website by following the link below:

Transport for London

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Item date 11/11/2010