Epidemiological studies have shown a positive association between ambient (outdoor) particulate matter (PM) concentrations and cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. Several studies have documented that especially the fine fraction (PM2.5) of PM10 is associated with health effects.

In the framework of this project, we established 2004 an aerosol measurement station in cooperation with the Environmental Science Center of the University Augsburg. The monitoring station is located on the premises of the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg. This measurement station is the central facility of this project. The continuous data recorded at the measurement station since 2004 were used in various national and international research studies in the field of exposure and health research, especially in studies conducted in the framework of the KORA research platform (Cooperative Health Research in the region of Augsburg).

The collaboration between Helmholtz Munich and the University of Augsburg was expanded in 2025 by a second collaboration partner from the University Augsburg, namely the Chair for Model-based Environmental Exposure Science of the Faculty of Medicine, University Augsburg.

More than 17.000 participants of the KORA cohort living in Augsburg and the region of Augsburg.

Helmholtz Munich (current funding period 2025-2027)

Duration: 2018 - ongoing

• Helmholtz Munich, Institute of Epidemiology, Research Group Environmental Exposure Assessment: Dr. Josef Cyrys
• University of Augsburg, Environmental Science Center: Prof. Dr, Jens Soentgen
• University of Augsburg, Faculty of Medicine, Chair for Model-based Environmental Exposure Science: Prof. Dr. Christoph Knote