Pollution-absorbing paint 'could improve motorway air quality'

A paint designed to absorb traffic pollution may be trailled in the north of England to improve air quality along one of the region's most polluted sections of motorway.

Junctions 17 and 18 of the M60 motorway could be daubed with the pollution-sucking Ecopaint if trials currently being held in Salford, Manchester go to plan.

During a trail in Milan, the air quality surrounding a stretch of road treated with Ecopaint was found to have improved by 60 per cent, reports the Bury Times.

The paint works by absorbing health-damaging gases from traffic fumes, such as nitrogen oxide, and washing them onto embankments when it rains in order to fertilise plants.

Another innovative pollution-tackling method being tested in the UK at present is the University of Essexs' robotic fish, which is fitted with chemical sensors designed to monitor fluctuating water quality in ports.