Pollution-Eating Concrete to Save Your Lungs

Researchers in the Netherlands have recently tested a special type of concrete that has the potential to absorb nitrogen oxides, which are a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. If implemented, this concrete could cut down on the the smog and acid rain caused by car exhaust. As Treehugger reports:

We already knew it worked in the lab, but this was a real-world test and the results are pretty impressive: a 25 to 45% reduction in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) over the special roads. This could mean that someday our roads and other concrete structures could be used to clean up the air.

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This seems like a practical idea, though it is somewhat of a secondary fix that doesn't attack the root causes of pollution. However, if city dwellers decide to walk, rather than drive, on this NOx-hungry concrete, then maybe we're on to something.

Read the Treehugger post here.

Photo (cc) Flickr user GeoCam20000 via Treehugger.