Research conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, published in the British Medical Journal, has found that exposure to pollutant particles and nitrogen dioxide in traffic fumes can lead to a ‘harvesting’ effect that may bring the onset of a heart attack forward by a few hours.

With 29,000 premature deaths in the UK (and 4,000 in London alone) attributable to poor air quality every year, and research continually confirming the risks associated with traffic pollution, the need to address the health issues resulting from vehicle fumes and look for immediate solutions is clear.

New vehicles are continually improving as studies like this raise awareness around the dangers of traffic fumes. However, with 10 million vehicles over 10 years old in circulation in the UK, a solution is needed to address the problem of old, polluting fleets, says GreenUrban Technologies.

Nigel Standley, CEO of GreenUrban Technologies, who manufacture eco-trap technology that can be retrofitted to older vehicles, said: “It’s all very well improving new vehicles as they enter the market, but what about existing cars, lorries and trucks? There needs to be a solution for the millions of road users unable to replace their dirty vehicles. And that’s where GreenUrban come in.”

GreenUrban manufacture diesel particulate traps and NOX filters that remove toxic carbon particulates (soot) and nitrogen dioxide pollutants from the exhaust gas of heavy diesel vehicles. The company offers a solution to emissions reductions.