Los angeles: A new study conducted by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California has shown that neighborhoods in the US state of California with higher numbers of electric vehicles (EV) experienced a decline in air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels, while pollution increased in neighborhoods where the number of conventionally fueled vehicles rose.

According to Qatar News Agency, the study found that adding approximately 200 zero-emission vehicles to neighborhoods between 2019 and 2023 contributed to a 1.1 percent reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels. Nitrogen dioxide is a harmful pollutant produced by fossil-fuel combustion and is linked to asthma attacks and bronchitis, as well as an increased risk of heart disease and strokes.

In their analysis, the researchers examined 1,692 neighborhoods across California, using public data from the Department of Motor Vehicles on the number of zero-emission vehicles - including battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. They also relied on high-resolution satellite data to monitor nitrogen dioxide levels by measuring how the gas absorbs and reflects sunlight.

The researchers noted that they plan to compare zero-emission vehicle data with the number of emergency room and hospital visits for asthma, in order to better understand the impact of these vehicles on public health. Estimates suggest that a full transition to electric vehicles could reduce nitrogen dioxide concentrations by up to 61 percent across the US.