Centre for Low Emission Construction
The construction industry is estimated to contribute 7%, 34% and 15% respectively to NOX, PM10 and PM2.5 emissions within London (LAEI 2106). Construction emissions are increasingly being accepted as important sources in air quality policy development in London, in regional bodies such as the Welsh Government and in national strategies.
Internationally, as populations grow, around 200,000 people are migrating to urban areas daily and these are dependent on the provision of affordable housing and infrastructure provided by the construction industry, with consequential impacts on air quality. Emissions from the construction industry will continue to increase in importance and therefore require further quantification and regulation by local and national governments.
Construction workers are exposed to the greatest levels of risk when working on sites near machines and activities that produce pollution. The CITB reported that during the 2016/17 period around 3000 construction workers were suffering with breathing and lung problems they believed were caused or made worse by their work.
CLEC conducts real-world research to create scientic evidence for Best in Class emission reduction and encourages uptake of low emission approaches that will further reduce the impacts on worker exposure, local air quality and the environment.
The Centre for Low Emission Construction (CLEC) is part of the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London.