An international measurement campaign on particulate matter pollution in aviation and shipping started at the University of Rostock on Monday. As the university announced, both the direct emissions - such as exhaust gases or the abrasion of brakes - are part of the measurements as well as ultrafine particles that are formed by the reaction with sunlight.

The series of tests on aircraft turbines and ship engines lasting several months is primarily intended to help assess the health risks. In Rostock, a kerosene-powered combustion chamber of a jet engine and a ship engine test bench are used for the tests.

The overall project is supported by a consortium that also includes researchers from the Norwegian Institute for Public Health (NIPH), the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the University of Friborg (Switzerland), of the Helmholtz Center Munich and the University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich. This project is called "ULTRHAS" (ULtrafine particles from TRansportation - Health Assessment of Sources) and is funded by the EU with four million euros.