Computational Approach to Link Chemicals in Anthropogenic Smoke Particulate Matter with Toxicity

Burn Pit Smoke Condensate-Mediated Toxicity in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

“…When more than 50 chemicals were analyzed across eight smoke condensates, distinct chemical groups were identified which coexisted; flaming plastic smoke condensate was rich in high levels of PAHs and nitro-PAHs, whereas flaming plywood and cardboard smoke condensates were rich in inorganic elements . Specifically, cardboard smoke condensate was rich in inorganic elements, including aluminum, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, silica, and zinc. , Our current observations suggest that IL-15, IP-10, MDC, and TARC cytokines are negatively correlated with the PAHs present in the smoke condensates. Interestingly, acenaphthene is positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-1β, while negatively associated with eotaxin-3.…”

“…Hence, burn pit smoke exposure-mediated health implications are expected to derive from both acute and chronic exposure to low and high levels of toxic fumes and particulates. We have previously shown that exposures to condensates from burn pit smoke emissions cause inflammation and cytotoxicity in the lungs of mice. , In this study, we explored the effect of burn pit smoke condensates on primary human airway epithelial cells (HAECs), to understand the effects on cellular targets in the human lung. We found that exposure to burn pit smoke condensate causes toxicity in airway epithelial cells, which differed depending on the type of waste and the combustion temperature.…”

“…49 Specifically, cardboard smoke condensate was rich in inorganic elements, including aluminum, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, silica, and zinc. 15,49 Our current observations suggest that IL-15, IP-10, MDC, and TARC cytokines are negatively correlated with the PAHs present in the smoke condensates. Interestingly, acenaphthene is positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-1β, while negatively associated with eotaxin-3.…”

“…Specifically, cardboard smoke condensate contains higher levels of benz­[ a ]­anthracene-7,12-quinone and inorganic elements including copper and silicon, which are closely related to protein and albumin leakage within lungs. In a follow-up study, we utilized a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to understand the relationship between the chemical content of burn pit smoke condensates and respiratory implications . When more than 50 chemicals were analyzed across eight smoke condensates, distinct chemical groups were identified which coexisted; flaming plastic smoke condensate was rich in high levels of PAHs and nitro-PAHs, whereas flaming plywood and cardboard smoke condensates were rich in inorganic elements .…”

The Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Asthma and Allergy

“…For example, there are currently very few data directly addressing the longer-term effects of repeated or chronic WFS exposures on established asthma and/or allergic disease, the specific WFS chemical toxicities of greatest impact on human health, strategies to protect high-risk and vulnerable populations, or the feasibility of large-scale application of monitoring technologies to guide individual actions. The complexity inherent in WFS exposures and how they relate to biological systems will ultimately require the application of new data analysis approaches such as the one described recently by Kim et al [ 95 ]. These approaches may be able to uncover hazardous chemical components/groups within complex WFS mixtures driving respiratory toxicity and its manifestations in asthma and allergic disease.…”