Dutch Paving Stones Turn Air Pollution into ‘Harmless’ Nitrates

CNET reports that researchers at the University of Twente in the Netherlands have devised what could be a breakthrough building material: paving stones that convert nitrogen dioxide from car exhaust into nitrate, which would then wash away in the rain.  The stones contain titanium dioxide, a chemical that catalyzes chemical reactions when exposed to light, mixed with concrete.  When the sun shines upon the paving stones, the pollutants would be transformed into nitrates.

While this is definitely innovative, and we certainly need green technology that works to remove pollution from the environment, we have to wonder, what’s the deal with the nitrate levels?  Would they really be ‘harmless’?

Nitrate is one of the most common groundwater contaminants, and even short-term exposure can cause serious health effects in infants.  Nitrate alone isn’t harmful to most adults in small amounts unless it’s converted to nitrite through a chemical process called reduction.  We’re exposed to plenty of nitrate on a daily basis – 80-90% of our intake is through vegetables – but very little of the nitrate in vegetables is converted to nitrite.

I’m no scientist – but I am concerned about the importance of considering all potential harmful effects of green technology since it’s being so rapidly produced right now. I’ll be interested to learn more about this idea, and the science behind their claim that the nitrate would be harmless.  After all, it would be washing right into our water supply.

Link [Cnet] + [Cornell Cooperative Extension]

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