In a recent study, researchers found that tiny brake dust particles are potentially more toxic than diesel exhaust which could affect your health.

A new British study suggests that microscopic particles from brake pads could be more toxic than emissions from diesel engines. This finding raises concern

When we think of urban air pollution, diesel exhaust emissions are often portrayed as a key culprit – rightly so, given previous research findings. However, our latest research shows that dust from brake pads could be more harmful to our lungs.

While the study doesn't specify which diesel engines were used to draw this comparison, agencies report that copper-heavy brake pads aren't much better than the asbestos units they replaced.