Hemolytic Properties of Fine Particulate Matter (PM) in In Vitro Systems.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that inhalation exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution, especially fine particles (i.e., PM (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.

Prolonged systemic inflammation and damage to the vascular endothelium following intratracheal instillation of air pollution nanoparticles in rats.

Background: Exposure to air pollution is associated with cardiovascular disease, including increased morbidity and mortality rates.

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to assess the effect, in rats, of intratracheal instillation of particulate air pollution on biomarkers of leucocyte activation and vascular endothelial damage.

Methods: Air pollution particles (PM10) were instilled into rats, and blood samples were taken three days and six weeks post instillation.

The collection of PM10 for toxicological investigation: comparisons between different collecting devices.

A positive correlation has been established between increased levels of airborne particulate pollution and adverse health effects, the toxicological mechanisms of which are poorly understood. For toxicologists to unambiguously determine these mechanisms, truly representative samples of ambient PM10 are required. This presents problems, as PM10 collecting equipment commonly employed, such as the Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM), heat the inflow to exclude moisture or use fibrous filters, resulting in a PM10 sample that may have undergone significant chemical change on the filter surface or is contaminated by filter fibres.

Particle-induced oxidative damage is ameliorated by pulmonary antioxidants.

This investigation focuses on the application of an in vitro assay in elucidating the role of lung lining fluid antioxidants in the protection against inhaled particles, and to investigate the source of bioreactivity in urban PM10 collections from South Wales. The Plasmid Assay is an in vitro method of assessing and comparing the oxidative bioreactivity of inhalable particles. This method has provided the basis of limited toxicological studies into various inhaled xenobiotics including asbestos, and more recently PM10.