Environmental Health Center

Comprehensive Molecular Analytics

The Cooperation Group Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA) was developing new mass spectrometric analysis techniques and molecular profiling of aerosols regarding their effects on human health. 

The Cooperation Group Comprehensive Molecular Analytics, headed by Professor Ralf Zimmermann, was in operation until December 31, 2025.

Air pollution in the city

About our Research

Cars in traffic jams in fog

Aerosols and Health

We investigated the nature and principles of adverse biological and toxicological effects of aerosols on lung cells, tissues, animals, and humans.

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Artistic 3D illustration of corona aerosol

Enabeling Analytical Technologies

We developed and applied new high-technology analytical methods for characterizing aerosols and biological systems.

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Save world from pollution and particulate matter with diameter of less than 2.5 µm

HICE and aeroHEALTH

The Helmholtz Virtual Institute HICE (2012-2017) and aeroHEALTH (2019-2024) were two consecutive 5-year projects that aimed to better understand the adverse effects of combustion aerosols on human health using multidisciplinary approaches.

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Highlights

Center Template, Icon, Featured Publication, Environmental Health

Featured Publication, Environmental Health, CMA,

Toxic Filtered Car Emissions After Sunlight Exposure

A new international study led by Helmholtz Munich and the University of Rostock reveals that emissions from modern gasoline cars – despite meeting the currently strictest European emission standards EURO 6d – can become significantly more harmful…

Rolled up magazines on blue background

CMA,

Manuscript accepted in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Lukas Schwalb and his colleagues have succeeded in chemically describing the complex medical substance sodium bituminosulfonate (SBS) as well as its process intermediates. For this study they have involved the online derivatization with…

congratulations graduates on top of the money scholarship money background concept.

CMA,

Defense

Mr. Xiao Wu successfully defended his doctoral thesis

Gerollte Seiten eines Magazins

CMA,

Manuscript acceptance in Environment International from first joint aeroHEALTH campaign

aeroHEALTH announces manuscript acceptance from first joint comprehensive study combining biological effects and physical/chemical analysis of anthropogenic and biogenic secondary organic aerosols in "Environment International".

Gold Star Awards Luxury

CMA,

Honorary Doctorate

Prof. Dr. Ralf Zimmermann receives honorary doctorate from the University of Eastern Finland.

Latest Publications

Environ. Sci. Technol. 60, 16029-16043 (2026)

Offer, S. ; Czech, H. ; Di Bucchianico, S. ; Hartikainen, A. ; Ihalainen, M. ; Hakkarainen, H. ; Happo, M.S. ; Huttunen, K. ; Ihantola, T. ; Suhonen, H. ; Uski, O. ; Martikainen, M. ; Dilger, M. ; Schlager, C. ; Candeias, J. ; Irmler, M. ; Beckers, J. ; Jakobi, G. ; Kanashova, T. ; Kortelainen, M. ; Kuuspalo, K. ; Lamberg, H. ; Leskinen, A. ; Michalke, B. ; Oeder, S. ; Orasche, J. ; Passig, J. ; Yli-Pirilä, P. ; Rönkkö, T. ; Schnelle-Kreis, J. ; Sklorz, M. ; Streibel, T. ; Tissari, J. ; Buters, J. ; Mülhopt, S. ; Weiß, C. ; Dittmar, G. ; Jokiniemi, J. ; Hirvonen, M. ; Jalava, P. ; Sippula, O. ; Zimmermann, R.

Atmospheric aging alters the toxicity mechanisms of residential wood combustion aerosol: A parallel In Vivo and In Vitro study.
J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 131:e2025JD044543 (2026)

Vakkari, V. ; Vettikkat, L. ; Kommula, S. ; Mukherjee, A. ; Hao, L. ; Backman, J. ; Buchholz, A. ; Gawlitta, N. ; Ihalainen, M. ; Jaars, K. ; Köster, K. ; Le, V. ; Miettinen, P. ; Nissinen, A. ; Czech, H. ; Alton, M. ; Passig, J. ; Peltokorpi, S. ; Piedehierro, A.A. ; Pullinen, I. ; Rosewig, E.I. ; Schobesberger, S. ; Shukla, D. ; Siebert, S.J. ; Somero, M. ; Virkkula, A. ; Welti, A. ; Yli-Pirilä, P. ; Ylisirniö, A. ; Zimmermann, R. ; van Zyl, P.G. ; Virtanen, A. ; Sippula, O.

Laboratory experiments on Savannah and European boreal forest fire emissions.
npj clim. atmos. sci. 9:108 (2026)

Kokkola, T. ; Sipkens, T.A. ; Paul, A. ; Shukla, D. ; Ihalainen, M. ; Das, A. ; Scott, J. ; Passig, J. ; Kalamašņikovs, A. ; Etzien, U. ; Fang, Z. ; Mikkonen, S. ; Hartikainen, A. ; Luostari, V. ; Mukherjee, A. ; Czech, H. ; Sklorz, M. ; Buchholz, B. ; Streibel, T. ; Hohaus, T. ; Rudich, Y. ; Johan Øvrevik, ; Zimmermann, R. ; Corbin, J.C. ; Sippula, O.

Highly light-absorbing particle emissions from low-sulfur marine fuels.