Experimental Exposure to Wood-Smoke Particles in Healthy Humans: Effects on Markers of Inflammation, Coagulation, and Lipid Peroxidation

Abstract

Particulate air pollution is known to increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Proposed mechanisms underlying this increase include effects on inflammation, coagulation factors, and oxidative stress, which could increase the risk of coronary events and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to examine whether short-term exposure to wood smoke affects markers of inflammation, blood hemostasis, and lipid peroxidation in healthy humans. Thirteen subjects were exposed to wood smoke and clean air in a chamber during two 4-h sessions, 1 wk apart. The mass concentrations of fine particles at wood smoke exposure were 240-280 mug/m3, and number concentrations were 95,000-180,000/cm3. About half of the particles were ultrafine (< 100 nm). Blood and urine samples were taken before and after the experiment. Exposure to wood smoke increased the levels of serum amyloid A, a cardiovascular risk factor, as well as factor VIII in plasma and the factor VIII/von Willebrand factor ratio, indicating a slight effect on the balance of coagulation factors. Moreover, there was an increased urinary excretion of free 8-iso-prostaglandin2alpha, a major F2-isoprostane, though this was based on nine subjects only, indicating a temporary increase in free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation. Thus, wood-smoke particles at levels that can be found in smoky indoor environments seem to affect inflammation, coagulation, and possibly lipid peroxidation. These factors may be involved in the mechanisms whereby particulate air pollution affects cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The exposure setup could be used to establish which particle characteristics are critical for the effects.

Public perceptions of air pollution and climate change: different manifestations, similar causes, and concerns

“…Scrubbers removing sulfur dioxide from power plant emissions may increase carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions due to higher energy use (Randolph and Dolsak 1996). Conversely, burning of biomass has no net CO 2 emissions if sustainably sourced, but produces local emissions of particulate matter (PM) with adverse health effects (Barregard et al 2006).…”

Size-Resolved Respiratory Tract Deposition of Sub-Micrometer Aerosol Particles in a Residential Area with Wintertime Wood Combustion

“…Residential wood combustion has been associated with adverse health effects on a societal level in epidemiological studies as well as with more limited number of subjects in chamber exposure studies (Boman et al, 2003;Barregard, et al, 2006;Sehlstedt et al, 2010). There is, however, insufficient evidence available to decide whether particles from wood combustion are more or less toxic than other combustion-derived particles and ambient fine particles in general (Naeher et al, 2007).…”

Analytical Methods of Levoglucosan, a Tracer for Cellulose in Biomass Burning, by Four Different Techniques

“…Many studies have suggested that exposure to air pollution, including particulate matter, is associate with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Miller et al, 2007). Not only trafficrelated air pollution, emissions from biomass burning may also be linked with adverse cardiovascular effects (Swiston et al, 2008;Barregard et al, 2006;Tan et al, 2000). Two suggested possibilities on the explanation of particular matter associated cardiovascular diseases are 1) a systemic inflammatory response following pulmonary deposition of particles and 2) endothelial dysfunction resulting from the release of inflammatory mediators (Bai et al, 2007;Brook et al, 2004).…”