Health effects and properties of nanoparticles derived from renewable and fossil fuel engine exhausts

It is unknown if particulate emissions from vehicles driven on new biofuels have similar effects on health as particulates from vehicles using fossil fuels. In order to begin to examine this unknown field, a collaboration between AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, SAAB Automobile, Stockholm University and Umeå University will look at both the physical and chemical properties of exhaust particles from different engine technologies and with different biofuels and biofuel-blends. Over a two year period, we will apply existing particle collection techniques to develop a new methodology in which to collect particles on filters and sampling of semivolatile compounds using poly urethane foam plugs for chemical and biological analysis. The particle size distribution, number, surface area and particulate mass from a different biofuel and biofuel blends using both state-of-the-art heavy duty and light duty engines with aftertreatment systems. Size-fractionalized particulates will be collected and analyzed in order to develop an understanding of the primary chemical and physical characteristics of the biofuel particulates which are the most severe to human health.
AB Volvo is project responsible and will provide engine bench investigation, engine bench analysis and measure particle emissions with state-of-the-art instrumentation, and will also perform reviews of literature and articles together with involved universities. AB Volvo will also collect particle emission for analysis, and perform simple chemical analysis. VCC and SAAB will provide with vehicle tests, collect particles for analysis and together with AB Volvo perform emission measurements. Stockholm University will provide chemical analysis of collected particles, and Umeå University will provide toxicological studies on collected particles and human experimental exposure studies.