Murine in utero exposure to simulated complex urban air pollution disturbs offspring gut maturation and microbiota during intestinal suckling-to-weaning transition in a sex-dependent manner.

Background: Emerging data indicate that prenatal exposure to air pollution may lead to higher susceptibility to several non-communicable diseases. Limited research has been conducted due to difficulties in modelling realistic air pollution exposure. In this study, pregnant mice were exposed from gestational day 10-17 to an atmosphere representative of a 2017 pollution event in Beijing, China.

Exposure to atmospheric Ag, TiO, Ti and SiO engineered nanoparticles modulates gut inflammatory response and microbiota in mice.

The development of nanotechnologies is leading to greater abundance of engineered nanoparticles (EN) in the environment, including in the atmospheric air. To date, it has been shown that the most prevalent EN found in the air are silver (Ag), titanium dioxide (TiO), titanium (Ti), and silicon dioxide (SiO). As the intestinal tract is increasingly recognized as a target for adverse effects induced by inhalation of air particles, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of these 4 atmospheric EN on intestinal inflammation and microbiota.

Review article: Epidemiological and animal evidence for the role of air pollution in intestinal diseases.

Background: Ambient air pollution is recognized as one of the leading causes of global burden of disease. Involvement of air pollution in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases was first recognized, and then cumulative data has indicated that the intestinal tract could be also damaged.

Aim: To review and discuss the current epidemiological and animal data on the effects of air pollution on intestinal homeostasis.