Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Air Quality and Public Health

White Paper
February 2026

Executive Summary

Sustainable aviation fuel is widely discussed for its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation. A growing body of scientific literature suggests that SAF can reduce aircraft particulate emissions that are most closely associated with air quality and public health concerns in communities located near airports [1,2,3,4]. These communities experience the highest exposure to aircraft exhaust during landing, taxiing, takeoff, and climb operations.

Across controlled engine tests, in flight measurement campaigns, and emissions modeling studies, SAF – particularly low aromatic and low sulfur pathways such as HEFA based fuels – has been consistently associated with reductions in non-volatile particulate matter, ultrafine particles, and soot emissions relative to conventional jet fuel [5,6,7,8]. Health impact modeling studies that incorporate measured ultrafine particle concentrations near airports indicate that these emission reductions are expected to translate into reductions in premature mortality and other health burdens as SAF adoption increases, though real world confirmation at scale is still emerging [9].

The available evidence suggests that expanding SAF production and use is a promising pathway to improve near-airport air quality and to reduce public health risks, while also advancing climate objectives.

Introduction

Aircraft engines emit a complex mixture of pollutants including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, soot, and ultrafine particles [10]. For communities located near airports, the most consequential exposures arise from particulate emissions during ground operations and low altitude flight [11,12]. Ultrafine particles and soot penetrate deep into the respiratory system and bloodstream and are associated with asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality [12,13].

Emissions Science

A consistent finding across the scientific literature is that SAF reduces aircraft particulate emissions. Ground based engine testing has shown that a 32 percent HEFA-SAF blend reduces nonvolatile particulate matter mass and number at all thrust levels, with the largest reductions at ground idle and taxi [5]. In flight measurements have demonstrated that biobased SAF blends can reduce particle number and mass by 50 to 70 percent relative to conventional jet fuel [6]. Measurements using 100 percent HEFA SAF on a commercial wide body aircraft also show substantial soot and particle reductions across multiple cruise power settings [7].

These reductions arise from SAF fuel chemistry. Low aromatic and low sulfur content reduces soot precursor formation and particle nucleation during combustion [8]. These effects are observed across multiple engine types and testing platforms [6,7,8].

Exposure and Health Pathways

Fine and ultrafine particles are among the most health relevant pollutants emitted by aircraft [12,13]. They are associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, respiratory disease, cardiovascular impacts, and increased mortality [12,13,14]. Because these particles are emitted in greatest quantity during low altitude and ground operations, populations near airports experience the highest exposures [11,12].

By reducing particle formation at the source, SAF directly lowers the pollutants most responsible for near airport health risks [5,6,7,8].

Community Scale Health Evidence

The strongest community scale evidence linking SAF related emission reductions to health outcomes comes from modeling work at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Researchers combined measured ultrafine particle concentrations, aircraft activity data, and dispersion modeling to estimate exposure and mortality impacts under SAF adoption scenarios [9]. These health benefits are derived from exposure and mortality models anchored to measured ultrafine particle concentrations rather than from observed clinical outcomes. The analysis found that reducing aviation related ultrafine particles could prevent between several and several dozen premature deaths per year depending on the level of SAF adoption, with the largest benefits occurring in neighborhoods closest to the airport and in socially vulnerable populations [9].

Uncertainty and Research Needs

Uncertainty remains because SAF deployment is currently limited and because ultrafine particles are not routinely monitored [9,11,15]. While emissions reductions from SAF are well documented, translation into health outcomes involves dispersion modeling, exposure assumptions, and epidemiological risk functions that introduce uncertainty in magnitude, though not in the direction of effect. There is a need for expanded monitoring networks around airports, standardized measurement of nonvolatile particulate matter and ultrafine particles, and empirical testing across a wider range of engines and SAF blends [5,7,11,15]. Further epidemiological research is needed to refine exposure response relationships for aviation specific ultrafine particles and to better quantify long term health outcomes [9,12,15].

Policy Interpretation

Despite these uncertainties, the trend of impact is positive. SAF reduces the particulate emissions most closely linked to near airport health risks [5,6,7,8,12]. As SAF adoption increases, air quality and public health benefits are expected to grow, particularly for communities closest to airport operations [9,11,12].

Conclusion

The scientific literature supports the conclusion that sustainable aviation fuel is a practical and effective tool for reducing aviation related particulate pollution and is a promising pathway for improving public health near airports. It further indicates that SAF adoption could prove an effective strategy for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in a sector that is among the more difficult to achieve GHG abatement. Expanding SAF adoption represents a sound investment in both climate and community health.

References

[1] Song, Z., Li, Z., and Liu, Z. (2024). Comparison of emission properties of sustainable aviation fuels and conventional aviation fuels: A review. Applied Sciences.

[2] Grimes, C. and Alvarez, R. A. (2025). Decarbonization of the aviation sector must address air quality concerns. Environmental Research Letters.

[3] Transport and Environment (2024). Can living near an airport make you ill? Aviation’s health effects on populations near airports.

[4] van Seters, D., Grebe, S., and Faber, J. (2024). Health impacts of aviation ultrafine particle emissions in Europe. CE Delft.

[5] Durdina, L. et al. (2021). Reduction of nonvolatile particulate matter emissions of a commercial turbofan engine at the ground level from the use of a sustainable aviation fuel blend. Environmental Science and Technology.

[6] Moore, R. H. et al. (2017). Biofuel blending reduces particle emissions from aircraft engines at cruise conditions. Nature.

[7] Dischl, R. et al. (2024). Measurements of particle emissions of an A350 941 burning 100 percent sustainable aviation fuels in cruise. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.

[8] Song, Z., Li, Z., and Liu, Z. (2024). Comparison of emission properties of sustainable aviation fuels and conventional aviation fuels. Fuel.

[9] Blanco, M. N. et al. (2025). Quantifying health benefits of sustainable aviation fuels modeling decreased ultrafine particle emissions and associated impacts on communities near the Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Atmospheric Environment.

[10] Grimes, C. and Alvarez, R. A. (2025). Decarbonization of the aviation sector must address air quality concerns. Environmental Research Letters.

[11] Transport and Environment (2024). Can living near an airport make you ill? Aviation’s health effects on populations near airports.

[12] van Seters, D., Grebe, S., and Faber, J. (2024). Health impacts of aviation ultrafine particle emissions in Europe. CE Delft.

[13] Jonsdottir, H. R. et al. (2019). Non volatile particle emissions from aircraft turbine engines at ground idle induce oxidative stress in bronchial cells. Communications Biology.

[14] Piris Cabezas, P. et al. (2024). Particulate matter pollution from aviation: Effective measures for changing the course of longstanding environmental injustices. Environmental Defense Fund.

[15] Elena, A. et al. (2025). Sustainable aviation fuel use at a Washington State international airport: Regional air quality benefits. University of Washington.