Is brake dust harmful for the environment?

[MCWD]

My reason for using the puppy pads had been geared more toward keeping the really dirty wheels from staining the driveways, and to keep it contained to the pad. My thoughts were when its dried and in the trash that it would be a disposed of properly. I would say maybe 1 out of every 20 cars would require this, but it was what I thought would be best. Even though it would go in the trash, where is all the collected metal particles going that are being caught in the water treatment facilities? Ultimately, I would think that this wouldn't be a horrible way to handle the situation for the few cars requiring this.

[qwertydude]

I don't really see the point in worrying. The brake dust left on the wheels is only a small percentage of what is released when you press the brakes. A lot gets sent into the air and settles on the ground. Rain water then runs it into the storm drains and possibly into the water table. And the most harmful element in brakes, asbestos has been phased out of production a long time ago. Now you pretty much just have different proportions of ceramic, carbon, copper or brass, and clay binders, maybe also a few harmless trace metals like aluminum or titanium. All of which are pretty harmless. But a big componenet of the dust is also iron, again a pretty harmless element.

I'm all for environmental consciousness but going overboard without understanding the science leads us nowhere, much like where these environmental threads often lead. There are sources of bad metals in ground water, the san gabriel valley water table is likely permanently contaminated but it's not people washing cars, it was from industrial plants back in the 50's dumping high tech waste which eventually leached into the table. Brakes are pretty much harmless, I'd have to say one of the more harmful things is those greasy tire dressings. Those things are just oil and silicone. That getting into our water table worries me more. Especially when I see people slather tire dressings on and it splatters everywhere. Also cars that leak motor oil. Not only makes your car ugly and prone to breakdown but that will wash into the water system more readily and a little bit will contaminate a lot of water because it doesn't evaporate it dwells on the water.

[STG]

Originally Posted by Lumadar

Yes, it is. My brother is the head of the storm water division for the City of San Diego in the planning and development area and he mentioned to me that the city is working with auto manufactures to change their brake pads since the dust all ends up in the storm drains, which in turn end up in our oceans and other local waterways and it is extremely harmful.

Terrific. I can't wait to replace the toxic brake pads on my F250 4X4 with eco-weenie approved eco pads made out of crushed granola assembled by hippies on a freakin'commune outside San francisco.

No...I'd rather stop my 7,200 lb. vehicle. (Yes, I drive it empty most of the time just to piss-off enviromentalists.)

[Relaited]

MCWD

The Total Pros out of Oceanside CA, have a prototype of a small wash mat that fits around the tire. I like it so I can get a little more sloppy as I increase speed, and not really worry as any drips will be captured by the mat ... looks like a "C" that fits around the tire.

Call, ask for Mel, and tell heim to hurry to develop thsi into a production model!

Cheers,

-jim