In vitro toxicity of car and train brake wear emissions using Air-Liquid Interface and submerged exposure models

• The major elemental components of all brake wear particles were iron, oxygen and carbon, with a few differences in other elements such as Cu and Zr. • The difference in the elemental composition has a limited influence on toxicity. • The results of the air-liquid interface and submerged experiments agreed: Low or no cytotoxicity and no significant inflammatory effects were observed.