Toxicity of Urban PM and Relation with Tracers of Biomass Burning

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2018 Feb 15

PMID 29439546

Citations 2

Authors

Rosette Van Den Heuvel

Jeroen Staelens

Gudrun Koppen

Greet Schoeters

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The chemical composition of particles varies with space and time and depends on emission sources, atmospheric chemistry and weather conditions. Evidence suggesting that particles differ in toxicity depending on their chemical composition is growing. This in vitro study investigated the biological effects of PM in relation to PM-associated chemicals. PM was sampled in ambient air at an urban traffic site (Borgerhout) and a rural background location (Houtem) in Flanders (Belgium). To characterize the toxic potential of PM, airway epithelial cells (Beas-2B cells) were exposed to particles in vitro. Different endpoints were studied including cell damage and death (cell viability) and the induction of interleukin-8 (IL-8). The mutagenic capacity was assessed using the Ames II Mutagenicity Test. The endotoxin levels in the collected samples were analyzed and the oxidative potential (OP) of PM particles was evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Chemical characteristics of PM included tracers for biomass burning (levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan), elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Most samples displayed dose-dependent cytotoxicity and IL-8 induction. Spatial and temporal differences in PM toxicity were seen. PM collected at the urban site was characterized by increased pro-inflammatory and mutagenic activity as well as higher OP and elevated endotoxin levels compared to the background area. Reduced cell viability (-0.46 < < -0.35, < 0.01) and IL-8 induction (-0.62 < < -0.67, < 0.01) were associated with all markers for biomass burning, levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan. Furthermore, direct and indirect mutagenicity were associated with tracers for biomass burning, OC, EC and PAHs. Multiple regression analyses showed levoglucosan to explain 16% and 28% of the variance in direct and indirect mutagenicity, respectively. Markers for biomass burning were associated with altered cellular responses and increased mutagenic activity. These findings may indicate a role of biomass burning in the observed adverse health effect of particulate matter.

Citing Articles

Cytotoxicity of Particulate Matter PM Samples from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Guissou J, Baudrimont I, Ouattara A, Simpore J, Sakande J J Toxicol. 2022; 2022:1786810.

PMID: 36310640 PMC: 9616664. DOI: 10.1155/2022/1786810.

Oxidative Potential Versus Biological Effects: A Review on the Relevance of Cell-Free/Abiotic Assays as Predictors of Toxicity from Airborne Particulate Matter.

Ovrevik J Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 20(19).

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