Low/Zero-Carbon fuels have been introduced to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions thereby achieving the goal of GHG emissions to net zero by 2050. Heavy-duty, marine, and aviation sectors have been recognized as the most fuel-demanding and high GHG-generating sectors with an increased trend over time. Therefore, alternative low-carbon fuels were introduced to these fields to achieve future goals of reducing GHGs. However, the environmental impacts of freshly generated and aged aerosols emitted from combustion engines that use low or zero-carbon fuels are yet to be studied comprehensively. Thus, it is important to understand the hazards and risks of low-carbon fuel emissions. 

The work package 4 of the LowC project was designed to assess human health impacts of toxicologically relevant specific contaminants derived from typical maritime, heavy-duty, and aviation engines when they combust low/zero carbon fuels including ammonia (NH₃), methanol (CH₃OH), methane (CH₄), and hydrogen (H₂). It is important to assess the impacts of low/zero C fuels on humans as they expose to these emissions through day-to-day life and occupational exposure. 

The exposure effects on human health are assessed using in vitro lung cell monocultures, advanced 3D human lung tissue models, and Air-liquid interface (ALI) exposures. Cell culturing techniques are used in experiments as they are cost-effective, efficient, and generate more human-relevant data compared to in vivo murine models.