A Non-Traditional Approach to Risk Assessment of Respiratory Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollutants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify a non-traditional assessment of respiratory exposure to outdoor air pollutants in industrial areas. The technique involved environmental biological monitoring' using domestic rabbits in the neighborhood of a mercury-producing plant. Rabbits were exposed whole-body to mercury emissions for 6 months in special cages near the plant. Control rabbits were kept using the same schedule outside the polluted area. Potential toxicity was assessed by: (a) measurement of Hg-accumulation in lungs and other body tissues by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS); (b) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the tracheal surface; and (c) measurement of toxic effects on pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) by a rossette assay (Fc immunoglobulin binding). We found increased Hg concentrations in the lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, brain and bone; changes in the mucosal relief of the trachea, and depression of PAM Fc receptor (FcR) activity to IgG. A 6-month chamber exposure of Wistar rats to the aerosol created from solid particles of the mercury-producing plant revealed the increase of Hg-content in the same body tissues except the brain, and, less intense morphologic changes on the tracheal relief. Biomonitoring using environmental exposure of domestic rabbits might be useful in screening for possible health hazards to the respiratory system from complex outdoor aerosols.

Air pollution induces heritable DNA mutations

“…Laboratory studies have demonstrated that murine ESTR loci are susceptible to germline mutations induced by chemical (8) or radioactive (9, 10) mutagens, and therefore may be useful tools for environmental contamination studies. The use of sentinel laboratory animals exposed in situ is a powerful experimental approach for assessing air pollution hazards because it combines the controlled elements of laboratory studies with direct exposure to ambient pollution levels (11,12). Here, we compare germline ESTR mutation rates in laboratory mice exposed to ambient air at an industrial site near integrated steel mills to those exposed at a rural reference location, with the objective of testing inhalation of industrial air pollution as a route of chemical mutagen exposure.…”

Cord Serum Immunoglobulin E Related to the Environmental Contamination of Human Placentas with Organochlorine Compounds

“…We have published results regarding biomarkers of exposure, impairment of tracheal mucosa, and immunotoxic effects related to heavy metals contained in the ambient air particulates using the animal model (42)(43)(44)(45).…”

Ambient air pollution exposure and damage to male gametes: human studies andin situ‘sentinel’ animal experiments

“…Sentinel animal studies also begin to reveal that the effects of air pollution can extend well beyond the respiratory system to almost any part of the body (Table 2). Airborne contaminants clearly reach systems remote from the respiratory tract [Reichrtova et al 1995], and can cause changes to the circulatory system [Lemos et al 2006] that might be important for explaining elevated rates of human cardiovascular events associated with air pollution (reviewed by [Vermylen et al 2005;Franchini and Mannucci 2009]). In addition, DNA damage and pre-mutational lesions can be induced in a variety of tissues, including liver and blood [Sato et al 2003;Soares et al 2003], providing further evidence that bodywide effects are possible.…”