Environmental impactThis study concerns a novel Plume Capture Device (PCD), which can temporarily store a plume sample so that comprehensive particle size distribution and gas and particle analysis measurements can be performed. The sampling technique is mobile making it very suitable for examining sources such as moving aircraft, motor vehicles and ships. The study examines particle losses in the PCD during size distribution measurements and the potential for these to affect measurement accuracy as well as steps for minimising and accounting for those losses. The sampling technique has been used in recently published studies of aircraft emissions where the plume was present for only 15 s. Further studies using the PCD are in progress.