Physicochemical and toxicological properties of wood smoke particulate matter as a function of wood species and combustion condition

Singh, Dilpreet; Tassew, Dereje Damte; Nelson, Jordan R.; Chalbot, Marie-Cécile G.; Kavouras, Ilias G.; Tesfaigzi, Yohannes; Demokritou, Philip

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129874

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…In summary, our study lays the foundation for further detailed, hypothesis-driven studies on investigating parameter-specific wood burning scenarios and addressing knowledge gaps on the acute and chronic health effects of wood smoke exposures. The authors have a companion paper 91 currently in review that addresses the important question of the role of different wood types (softwoods vs hardwoods) on the emitted PM properties under different combustion conditions and their toxicological effects using the developed platform and methodology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of an Integrated Platform to Assess the Physicochemical and Toxicological Properties of Wood Combustion Particulate Matter

Singh

Tassew

Nelson

et al. 2022

Chem. Res. Toxicol.

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Wood burning contributes to indoor and ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Here, we present an integrated methodology that allows to generate, sample, and characterize wood smoke derived from different moisture contents and representative combustion conditions using pine wood as a model. Flaming, smoldering, and incomplete combustion were assessed for low-moisture pine, whereas both low-moisture pine and high-moisture pine were investigated under flaming conditions. Real-time monitoring of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and aerosol number concentration/size in wood smoke was performed. The PM was size-fractionated, sampled, and characterized for elemental/organic carbon, organic functional groups, and inorganic elements. Bioactivity of PM was assessed by measuring the sterile alpha motif (SAM) pointed domain containing ETS (E-twenty-six) transcription factor (SPDEF) gene promoter activity in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293T) cells, a biomarker for mucin gene expression. Findings showed that moisture content and combustion condition significantly affected the organic and inorganic elemental composition of PM0.1 as well as its bioactivity. Also, for a given moisture and combustion scenario, PM chemistry and bioactivity differed considerably with PM size. Importantly, PM0.1 from flaming combustion of low-moisture pine contained the highest abundance of the oxygenated saturated aliphatic functional group [H–C–O] and was also biologically most potent in stimulating SPDEF promoter activity, suggesting the role of organic compounds such as carbohydrates and sugar alcohols (that contain [H–C–O]) in driving mucus-related respiratory outcomes. Our platform enables further well-controlled parametric studies using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches to link wood burning parameters with acute and chronic inhalation health effects of wood smoke.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of an Integrated Platform to Assess the Physicochemical and Toxicological Properties of Wood Combustion Particulate Matter

Singh

Tassew

Nelson

et al. 2022

Chem. Res. Toxicol.

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“…The efficient combustion of wood in modern, certified stoves may also contribute to lowering PM emissions. Wood with higher moisture content produces a higher quantity of PM compared to dry wood [ 42 , 43 ]. High moisture content causes incomplete wood combustion resulting in high emission of PM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cleaning the Flue in Wood-Burning Stoves Is a Key Factor in Reducing Household Air Pollution

Rahman

Petersen

Irshad

et al. 2022

Toxics

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In experimental settings, replacing old wood stoves with new wood stoves results in reduced personal exposure to household air pollution. We tested this assumption by measuring PM2.5 and levoglucosan concentrations inside homes and correlated them with wood stove age. Methods: Thirty homes in the Albuquerque, NM area were monitored over a seven-day period using in-home particulate monitors placed in a common living area during the winter months. Real-time aerosol monitoring was performed, and filter samples were analyzed gravimetrically to calculate PM2.5 concentrations and chemically to determine concentrations of levoglucosan. A linear regression model with backward stepwise elimination was performed to determine the factors that would predict household air pollution measures. Results: In this sample, 73.3% of the households used wood as their primary source of heating, and 60% burned daily or almost daily. The mean burn time over the test week was 50 ± 38 h, and only one household burned wood 24/day (168 h). The average PM2.5 concentration (standard deviation) for the 30 homes during the seven-day period was 34.6 µg/m3 (41.3 µg/m3), and median (min, max) values were 15.5 µg/m3 (7.3 µg/m3, 193 µg/m3). Average PM2.5 concentrations in 30 homes ranged from 0–15 μg/m3 to >100 μg/m3. Maximum PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 100–200 μg/m3 to >3000 μg/m3. The levoglucosan levels showed a linear correlation with the total PM2.5 collected by the filters (R2 = 0.92). However, neither mean nor peak PM2.5 nor levoglucosan levels were correlated with the age (10.85 ± 8.54 years) of the wood stove (R2 ≤ 0.07, p > 0.23). The final adjusted linear regression model showed that average PM2.5 was associated with reports of cleaning the flue with a beta estimate of 35.56 (3.47–67.65) and R2 = 0.16 (p = 0.04). Discussion: Cleaning the flue and not the wood stove age was associated with household air pollution indices. Education on wood stove maintenance and safe burning practices may be more important in reducing household air pollution than the purchase of new stoves.

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The Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Asthma and Allergy

Noah

Worden

Rebuli

et al. 2023

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep

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Purpose of Review To review the recent literature on the effects of wildfire smoke (WFS) exposure on asthma and allergic disease, and on potential mechanisms of disease. Recent Findings Spatiotemporal modeling and increased ground-level monitoring data are allowing a more detailed picture of the health effects of WFS exposure to emerge, especially with regard to asthma. There is also epidemiologic and some experimental evidence to suggest that WFS exposure increases allergic predisposition and upper airway or sinonasal disease, though much of the literature in this area is focused more generally on PM 2.5 and is not specific for WFS. Experimental evidence for mechanisms includes disruption of epithelial integrity with downstream effects on inflammatory or immune pathways, but experimental models to date have not consistently reflected human disease in this area. Summary Exposure to WFS has an acute detrimental effect on asthma. Potential mechanisms are suggested by in vitro and animal studies.

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Physicochemical and toxicological properties of wood smoke particulate matter as a function of wood species and combustion condition

Cited by 11 publications

References 71 publications

Development of an Integrated Platform to Assess the Physicochemical and Toxicological Properties of Wood Combustion Particulate Matter

Development of an Integrated Platform to Assess the Physicochemical and Toxicological Properties of Wood Combustion Particulate Matter

Cleaning the Flue in Wood-Burning Stoves Is a Key Factor in Reducing Household Air Pollution

The Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Asthma and Allergy

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