ASU researcher Elham Fini has documented that asphalt emits toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that damage respiratory and neurological health, especially as pavement ages in heat. Algae-infused asphalt developed at ASU reduces the toxicity of these emissions by roughly 100-fold while slowing pavement degradation, and the university is testing the approach on Phoenix roads. The research has implications for construction workers and urban communities, especially in hot cities, though regulators have not yet integrated asphalt VOC emissions into standard air quality assessments despite their documented health effects.