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Comment by HPsquared | Hacker News Reader

I wonder how much this could be reduced by cleaning the road surface such that there is less dust to kick up? Say, pressure washing / brushing / vacuuming the surface. There are already automated street sweepers, could these reduce the amount of dust kicked up by cars?

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In Trondheim, Norway, this have been a big problem. The main road, Elgeseter Gate, is cleaned almost every night by a big "vacuum" that washes and sucks up the dust.

Edit, found an article (Norwegian): https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/slik-loste-trondheim-problemene...

Basically they solved the issue with: washing the streets, reduce amount cars with spiked tires during winter, reduce speed of the road, switch to a more durable asphalt type, avoid using sand during winter.

Just dont spray it with dixoin like they did in Times Beach, Missouri 1972-82.

https://www.epa.gov/mo/town-flood-and-superfund-looking-back...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Beach,_Missouri#Crisis_a...

Good idea. Another consideration is that you may remove the problem from roads and move it elsewhere. The fine particles could be problematic in water, collection could kick up more Dist, etc.

You'd have to clean everything within 1000 yards of the highway. It is kicked airborne and is blown all over the place. In California the effect is pronounced where it doesn't rain. You can wipe road dust off your window exteriors with a cloth and it will be black in one pass. Stucco buildings look dirty and brown before long due to the road dust accumulating in their rough surface.

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