Engine, brake and tire dust samples were collected from a range of
jet aircraft at the British Airways (BA) engineering facility at London
Heathrow Airport (LHR), UK between August 2010 and October 2013.
The aircraft sampled comprised Boeing 747–436; 767–336; 777–236
and Airbus A319-131 and A320-232. Engine dust samples (n = 13;
sample mass: 0.6–1.4 g) from several engine types were collected
from the mixer shroud surrounding the turbine blades, onto which
some PM in the exhaust emissions impacts directly during routine
engine function, leading to a slight accumulation over time (BA Engineering,
pers. comm.). Brake dust samples (n = 16; sample mass:
0.75–3.5 g) were collected from the wheel hubs of these aircraft.
Brake lining wear occurs most commonly during landing and less
2.1. Engine, brake and tire dust sampling