TagNature(3)

Researchers measured ultrafine particle emissions from approximately 500 individual aircraft operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol using portable sensors placed about 200 meters from an active runway. The study found that departing aircraft produce higher particle concentrations than arriving ones, with peaks reaching one million particles per cubic centimeter for particles smaller than 25 nanometers, and that emission levels do not simply scale with aircraft size or engine power. The findings highlight significant variability in real-world emissions across different aircraft and engine types, suggesting that current certification-based data may not fully capture the air quality impacts experienced by airport workers and nearby communities.