Vascular and lung function related to ultrafine and fine particles exposure assessed by personal and indoor monitoring: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundExposure to ambient air particulate matter (PM) has been linked to decline in pulmonary function and cardiovascular events possibly through inflammation. Little is known about individual exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) inside and outside modern homes and associated health-related effects.MethodsAssociations between vascular and lung function, inflammation markers and exposure in terms of particle number concentration (PNC; d = 10-300 nm) were studied in a cross-sectional design with personal and home indoor monitoring in the Western Copenhagen Area, Denmark. During 48-h, PNC and PM2.5 were monitored in living rooms of 60 homes with 81 non-smoking subjects (30-75 years old), 59 of whom carried personal monitors both when at home and away from home. We measured lung function in terms of the FEV1/FVC ratio, microvascular function (MVF) and pulse amplitude by digital artery tonometry, blood pressure and biomarkers of inflammation including C-reactive protein, and leukocyte counts with subdivision in neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes in blood.ResultsPNC from personal and stationary home monitoring showed weak correlation (r = 0.15, p = 0.24). Personal UFP exposure away from home was significantly inversely associated with MVF (1.3% decline per interquartile range, 95% confidence interval: 0.1-2.5%) and pulse amplitude and positively associated with leukocyte and neutrophil counts. The leukocyte and neutrophil counts were also positively and pulse amplitude negatively associated with total personal PNC. Indoor PNC and PM2.5 showed positive association with blood pressure and inverse association with eosinophil counts.ConclusionsThe inverse association between personal exposure away from home and MVF is consistent with adverse health effects of UFP from sources outside the home and might be related to increased inflammation indicated by leukocyte counts, whereas UFP from sources in the home could have less effect.

A work group report on ultrafine particles (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology): Why ambient ultrafine and engineered nanoparticles should receive special attention for possible adverse health outcomes in human subjects

“…Two studies from Denmark demonstrated that exposure to UFP away from home was significantly inversely correlated with microvascular function and positively associated with systemic inflammation. 6, 8 There was no association between these changes and PM 10 and PM 2.5 . Decreased lung function, i.e.…”

“…forced expired volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and forced vital capacity, and elevated type 2 diabetes marker (HbA1c) were associated with the level of indoor UFP, but not PM 2.5 . 6, 8 A recently published 6-year (2001–2007) cohort study including more than 100,000 women in California reported that the mortality caused by ischemic heart disease (IHD) was significantly associated with UFP, their contents of EC and metals, and mobile source. Although similar association was also found between IHD mortality and PM 2.5 , statistical analysis showed that UFP mass and its constituents had a better fit and a lower p-value than those of PM 2.5 .…”

Characterization of air freshener emission: the potential health effects

“…Exposure to ultrafine particles causes chronic inflammatory responses, accompanied by cytokines and chemokine release (Seagrave, 2008). Particles greater than 10 μm are filtered in the nose and upper airway, while smaller particle sizes are inhaled into the lungs, which filter out the ultrafine particles through the actions of eosinocyte, neutrophils, and macrophages (Olsen et al, 2014). In addition, ultrafine particles cause sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and lung cancer, as well as chronic bronchitis (McConnell et al, 2003).…”

New Methods for Personal Exposure Monitoring for Airborne Particles

“…The nanoTracer has been compared to other instruments in the laboratory [69, 70]. It has been used to evaluate determinants of ultrafine particle concentrations in homes [71] and to investigate possible associations among ultrafine particle exposures and adverse cardiopulmonary health [72–74]. …”