AIR CLEANING TECHNOLOGIES FOR TUNNELS – HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY FOR PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH

Motor Vehicle tunnels capture both direct emission and remobilized particles aswell as gasses. These captured particles and gasses must be responsibly managed toensure risks to human health are mitigated. Active air cleaning technologies whichcan remove particles and gasses are sometimes used in road tunnels. Passive air dispersal techniques are commonly used. In some rare instances Passive and Active systems are used together. Unfortunately, active air cleaning technologies are often NOT used once a project is approved and operating. In the absence of a passive ventilation strategy – not using the active ventilation system may result in a greater risk of harm to people than if no active air cleaning system was used at all. The best policy for managing the risks to human health from vehicle emissions is to ensure exposure is managed – by whatever method is best in the unique circumstances of each tunnel.