Simply taking global warming into account is not enough. The health impacts of air pollution are measured in the short term (a few months/years), while those of global warming are measured over several decades.

Four groups of pollutants are predominant: nitrogen oxides(NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2), fine particulates (PM) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) such as benzene (C6H6). These pollutants have a dual ecological and health impact. On the one hand, they contribute to the acidification of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, generating environmental stress; on the other, they affect human health and are responsible for cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.

We also need to consider where pollutants are emitted. Those emitted in large metropolitan areas have a greater impact on society than those emitted in rural, sparsely populated areas. This distinction can be seen in maritime transport, where sulfur oxide (SO2) emissions are highly regulated near the coast (SECA zones).

In a similar way to calculating CO2 emissions, we can quantify the pollutants emitted during energy use and production.

In the case of road transport, investment in vehicles with higher EURO standards makes it possible to control emissions of the most important pollutants (NOx and PM).

TK'Blue Agency measures the costs of negative externalities, i.e. the health impact of air pollution attributable to freight transport. Its pollutant and particle calculator shows the extremely significant progress made in recent years by truck manufacturers in reducing nuisances, as well as the undeniable advantages of other modes of transport and energy sources in reducing particle emissions.