Particle Debris Generated from Passenger Tires Induces Morphological and Gene Expression Alterations in the Macrophages Cell Line RAW 264.7

Abstract

Air pollution in the urban environment is a topical subject. Aero-suspended particles can cause respiratory diseases in humans, ranging from inflammation to asthma and cancer. One of the components that is most prevalent in particulate matter (PM) in urban areas is the set of tire microparticles (1–20 μm) and nanoparticles (<1 μm) that are formed due to the friction of wheels with asphalt and are increased in slow-moving areas that involve a lot of braking actions. In this work, we studied the effect that microparticles generated from passenger tires (PTWP, passenger tire wear particles) have in vitro on murine macrophages cells RAW 264.7 at two concentrations of 25 and 100 μg/mL, for 24 and 48 h. In addition to the chemical characterization of the material and morphological characterization of the treated cells by transmission electron microscopy, gene expression analysis with RT-PCR and active protein analysis with Western blotting were performed. Growth curves were obtained, and the genotoxic effect was evaluated with a comet assay. The results indicate that initially, an induction of the apoptotic process is observable, but this is subsequently reversed by Bcl2. No genotoxic damage is present, but mild cellular abnormalities were observed in the treated cells.

Occurrence of Microplastics in Drinking Water in South East Asia: A Short Review

“…Secondly, rubber waste generated from the manufacturing process can also contribute to MPs pollution when not properly disposed of. Finally, the use of rubber products, such as tires and rubber gloves, can release MPs into the environment through wear and tear [19,20]. Improper disposal of tires can also exacerbate the plastic pollution problem.…”

Emission Factors of Tyre Wear Particles Emitted by Light Road Vehicles in Real Driving Conditions: A New Challenge for Clean Road Transport to Improve Urban Air Quality

“…This highlights the link between the mechanical properties of the particles and the risk that they are deposited in the respiratory system. Genotoxic damage was observed [16], which can have serious health consequences [17]. Kreider et al [18] suggested a risk assessment calculation considering exposure duration for humans.…”