Mobile laboratory sniffs traffic pollutants

A new mobile laboratory makes it possible to study traffic pollutants in actual traffic conditions. The mobile laboratory, which can be used to measure exhaust gases both on roads and in tunnels as well as in underground sites, can shed new light on the amount and size distribution of exhaust gases.

Fine particles in exhaust gasses are being studied in greater detail because of their detrimental effect on our health and on the environment. Fine and ultrafine particles can worsen asthma symptoms and they are also believed to increase heart and lung diseases. The biological mechanisms of these particles are not yet accurately known and it also remains unclear which physical and chemical factors pose the most significant health threat. The Laboratory of Automotive Engineering of Helsinki Polytechnic has developed a mobile laboratory which makes it possible to study the quantity and quality of fine particles in real traffic conditions.
The mobile laboratory, known as the sniffer in Finnish, can be used to measure exhaust gas emissions in a particular traffic situation such as a traffic jam or on particular road during normal traffic. It can also be used to study the dispersion of freshly emitted traffic pollutants near a road. In addition to outdoor use, the mobile laboratory can also be used indoors to measure exhaust gases in tunnels and parking halls, for example. Furthermore, the mobile laboratory is also able to measure emissions coming from a particular vehicle. During so-called chase experiments the sniffer follows a vehicle to measure its emissions.
The sniffer is a Volkswagen LT35. The van is equipped with air conditioning and heating systems so that it can be used all year round. The power for the instruments is provided by four batteries and an inverter. Two different inlet systems opening towards the driving direction, one above the wind shield and the other above the bumper, are connected in such a way that sampling can be attained from the same exhaust fume. The current instrumentation consists of gas analysers for measuring carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, a particle size distribution instrument ELPI, weather station and a global position system (gps). Additionally, the University of Helsinki provides an UCPC and a SMPS for recording the smallest ultrafine particle number concentration as well as their size distribution.
The mobile laboratory is part of a larger air quality research project called LIPIKA which belongs to the Tekes Technology Programme FINE Particles - Technology, Environment and Health 2002-2005. The coordinator of LIPIKA is Tampere Technical University and the other project partners are the University of Helsinki, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Technical Research Centre of Finland and Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council.More information
Liisa Pirjola, Ph.D. Lecturer,Helsinki Polytechnic, Technology,P.O. Box 4020, FIN-00099 Helsinki,Tel. [phone], + 358 40 731 8045,E-mail: [e-mail]
FINE Particles - Technology, Environment and Health 2002-2005

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