Lung cancer risk of airborne particles for Italian population

Abstract

Airborne particles, including both ultrafine and supermicrometric particles, contain various carcinogens. Exposure and risk-assessment studies regularly use particle mass concentration as dosimetry parameter, therefore neglecting the potential impact of ultrafine particles due to their negligible mass compared to supermicrometric particles. The main purpose of this study was the characterization of lung cancer risk due to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some heavy metals associated with particle inhalation by Italian non-smoking people. A risk-assessment scheme, modified from an existing risk model, was applied to estimate the cancer risk contribution from both ultrafine and supermicrometric particles. Exposure assessment was carried out on the basis of particle number distributions measured in 25 smoke-free microenvironments in Italy. The predicted lung cancer risk was then compared to the cancer incidence rate in Italy to assess the number of lung cancer cases attributed to airborne particle inhalation, which represents one of the main causes of lung cancer, apart from smoking. Ultrafine particles are associated with a much higher risk than supermicrometric particles, and the modified risk-assessment scheme provided a more accurate estimate than the conventional scheme. Great attention has to be paid to indoor microenvironments and, in particular, to cooking and eating times, which represent the major contributors to lung cancer incidence in the Italian population. The modified risk assessment scheme can serve as a tool for assessing environmental quality, as well as setting up exposure standards for particulate matter.

Effect of indoor-generated airborne particles on radon progeny dynamics

“…Indoor air quality represents a key aspect of the overall risk associated with exposure to airborne pollutants [1][2][3][4]. Indeed, indoor air quality is influenced by both (i) indoor generated pollutants not properly ex-filtrated through the building (due to the low air exchange rates [5,6]), and (ii) pollutants penetrating from outdoors.…”

Varied dose exposures to ultrafine particles in the motorcycle smoke cause kidney cell damages in male mice

“…They might be able to penetrate alveoli and deposit to the alveolar surface area [ 6 ]. They follow the bloodstream, and harm lung [ 7 ], brains [ 8 ], and erythrocytes [ 9 ]. The ultrafine particle impacts on health are still needed to be investigated deeply.…”

Environmental Exposure to Ultrafine Particles inside and nearby a Military Airport

“…Health effects associated with PM exposure include respiratory and cardiopulmonary effects, increased hospitalization rates, and increased mortality rates from all causes and from lung cancer specifically [4,5]. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhaust, a major source of PM, as a Group 1 human carcinogen [6].…”