The efficiency of EURO 6d car particulate filters is compromised by atmospheric aging: In vitro toxicity of gasoline car exhaust

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq2348
• Publication Date: 2025-05-28T17:58:47Z
• Authors: Mathilde N. Delaval; Hendryk Czech; Mohammad Almasaleekh; Svenja Offer; Jana Pantzke; Mika Ihalainen; Pasi Yli-Pirilä; Markus Somero; Miika Kortelainen; Nadine Gawlitta; Jürgen Orasche; Gert Jakobi; Deeksha Shukla; Patrick Martens; Andreas Paul; Zheng Fang; Michal Pardo; Alexandre Barth; Battist Utinger; Seongho Jeong; Narges Rastak; Evelyn Kuhn; Anja Huber; Arya Mukherjee; Arunas Mesceriakovas; Jorma Joutsensaari; Jani Leskinen; Anni Hartikainen; Johannes Passig; Sebastian Oeder; Jürgen Schnelle-K...; Thorsten Hohaus; Astrid Kiendler-S...; Markus Kalberer; Sebastiano Di Buc...; Yinon Rudich; Olli Sippula; Ralf Zimmermann
• Keywords: Ultrafine particle; Particle (ecology)

Tailpipe emissions from road traffic contribute substantially to the burden of fine inhalable particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and deteriorate air quality. Exhaust emission standards, forcing improvements in combustion exhaust after-treatment technology, considerably decreases combustion-related PM emitted by modern cars. A549 cancerous alveolar BEAS-2B normal bronchial epithelial cells were exposed at air-liquid interface total aerosol or gas phase either fresh photochemically aged tailpipe a gasoline EURO 6d car equipped with filter. Diluted contained particle number concentrations comparable low ambient levels induced no detectable cytotoxicity. Photochemical aging led formation secondary aerosols caused significant While DNA damage, oxidative stress was more associated volatile species. Our results call for consideration atmospheric transformation processes future standards toward health effect-driven regulations.