Effects of fine carbonaceous particles containing high and low unpaired electron spin densities on lungs of female mice.

The negative impacts on human health that accompany inhalation of atmospheric particles are documented in numerous epidemiologic studies, but the effect of specific chemical properties of the particles is generally unknown. We developed and employed technology for generating inhalable aerosols of carbonaceous air pollution particles that have specific physical and chemical properties. We find that inhaling particles with greater unpaired electron spin (free radical) densities stimulates greater lung inflammatory and oxidative stress responses.