LOS ANGELES — Residents of Culver City, Gardena, West Hollywood and other Los Angeles communities face exposure to microscopic particles in the air near electric vehicle charging stations that could penetrate deep into their lungs and bloodstream, potentially causing heart or lung disease, a new study shows.
UCLA researchers found the air near EV charging stations in West Hollywood contained 39.0 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particulate matter — more than three times higher than typical urban air in Los Angeles County. These particles, called PM2.5, measure 30 times smaller than a human hair and can bypass the body’s natural defenses.
“For anyone, exposure to fine particles can contribute to health issues, and for those with existing conditions or heightened sensitivity, the risks are even greater,” Michael Jerrett said. Jerrett is a professor in UCLA Fielding’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences and study co-author.
The particles can travel deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to serious cardiovascular and respiratory problems, researchers say. People with asthma, heart conditions or other health issues face greater risks from exposure.
“EVs remain a vast improvement over combustion vehicles, and our own studies show that transportation electrification cleans the air for everyone,” Tiffany Zhu, a professor in UCLA Fielding’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences and study lead author, said. “These unintended emissions by fast chargers should be addressed, such as by adding air filters to prevent redistribution of fine particulate matter.”
Gardena recorded 16.0 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter, while Culver City showed two different readings: 15.4 micrograms per cubic meter at one Tesla station and 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter at an Electrify America location. For comparison, urban areas without charging stations typically showed concentrations between 3.6 and 12.4 micrograms per cubic meter.
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health researchers measured air quality at 50 Direct Current Fast Charging stations across 47 cities in Los Angeles County between February and May. They published their findings in Environment International.
The particles likely come from dust and debris stirred up by cooling fans inside the charging stations’ power cabinets, which convert electricity from the grid into direct current needed to charge electric vehicle batteries, Yuan Yao said. Yao is a UCLA Fielding scholar and the study’s first author.
“The cabinets also contain cooling systems to prevent the electronics from overheating, and these cooling fans can stir up dust and particles from internal surfaces,” Yao said.
The health risks affect anyone spending time near these charging stations, including people living, working or shopping in the immediate area. The particles originate from various sources including brake and tire wear, dirt and dust that gets circulated by the charging equipment.
The study examined charging stations from Tesla, EVgo, Electrify America and Shell Recharge. Power output ranged from 100 to 350 kilowatts, with stations containing between 3 and 44 individual chargers.
West Hollywood recorded the highest levels countywide at 39.0 micrograms per cubic meter, followed by Santa Clarita at 34.8 micrograms per cubic meter. Some communities showed lower readings, including Claremont at 7.3 micrograms per cubic meter.
Los Angeles County operates 1,938 EV fast chargers of the 9,900 units across California as of November 2023. The county has the highest number of such chargers in the United States, compared to 2,200 in Texas and 2,100 in Florida.
The research team selected locations randomly across the county and used certified sampling equipment synchronized for accuracy. They also sampled at gas stations and urban background sites during the same period for comparison.
“Transportation electrification is vital to California’s climate goals, and EV charging infrastructure plays a key role in that transition,” Zhu said.
Other communities in the coverage area showed varying levels: Los Angeles itself showed 9.4 micrograms per cubic meter at a downtown charging station.
