A comparative study of wood sawdust and plastic smoke particulate matter with a focus on spectroscopic, fluorescent, oxidative, and neuroactive properties

Abstract

Here, water-suspended smoke aerosol preparation was synthesized from biomass-based fuel, i.e., a widespread product for residential heating, wood sawdust (WP) (pine, poplar, and birch mixture), and its properties were compared in parallel experiments with the smoke preparation from plastics (PP). Molecular groups in the PM preparations were analyzed using Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. WP was assessed in neurotoxicity studies using rat cortex nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Generation of spontaneous and H 2 O 2 -evoked reactive oxygen species (ROS) detected using fluorescent dye 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein in nerve terminals was decreased by WP. In comparison with PP, WP demonstrated more pronounced reduction of spontaneous and H 2 O 2 -evoked ROS production. WP completely inhibited glutamate receptor agonist kainate-induced ROS production, thereby affecting the glutamate receptor-mediated signaling pathways. WP decreased the synaptosomal membrane potential in fluorimetric experiments and the synaptosomal transporter-mediated uptake of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, L-[ 14 C]glutamate and [ 3 H] γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. PP decreased the ambient synaptosomal level of [ 3 H]GABA, whereas it did not change that of L-[ 14 C]glutamate. Principal difference between WP and PP was found in their ability to influence the ambient synaptosomal level of [ 3 H]GABA (an increase and decrease, respectively), thereby showing riskiness in mitigation of synaptic inhibition by PP and triggering development of neuropathology.

Disposable facemask waste combustion emits neuroactive smoke particulate matter

“…MP-induced changes in the membrane potential of nerve terminals and isolated neurons (Fig. 6 ) were in line with our previous experiments on wood smoke-induced changes in the membrane potential of nerve terminals and cell viability in culture (gut COLO 205 cells) 17 , 18 , 41 .…”

“…It should be noted that an increase in the extracellular level of glutamate in the nerve terminals above definite individual threshold can cause neurotoxicity and death of neurons via over activation of postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors 30 , 31 . Also, data on changed neurotransmitter transport in the presence of MPs agreed with our recent studies regarding neurotoxic effects of water-suspended plastic smoke preparations 17 , 18 , where smoke preparations from polyethylene bottles showed almost similar changes (as compared to MPs) in L-[ 14 C]glutamate and [ 3 H]GABA transport in nerve terminals.…”

“…9 ). These effects did not contradict our recent results obtained using plastic (polyethylene bottle) smoke preparations 17 , 18 and data of literature, where antioxidant properties, in particular the ability to act as ROS scavenger were shown for carbon dots and plastic organics 35 – 39 . ROS are very important for the regulation of neurotransmission (especially GABA-ergic one) and synaptic plasticity 40 , an inhibition of kainate-induced ROS production by MPs may result in the disruption of receptor-mediated signaling pathways, thereby indirectly influencing neuronal activity.…”

“…It is clear from our results that the neurotoxic effects of MPs were almost similar to the main neuroactive characteristics of smoke preparations synthesized from polyethylene bottles 17 , 18 . Therefore, accidental or intentional utilization of medical facemask waste by combustion can contribute to plastic-related air pollution of the environment.…”

“…It should be underlined that impairment of transport of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively, is involved in the pathogenesis of major neurological complications and disorders. Also, a comparative neurochemical study of wood sawdust and plastic smoke particulate matter preparations revealed higher riskiness in mitigation of synaptic inhibition by plastic preparations as compared to the wood sawdust ones 18 .…”