Size, source and chemical composition as determinants of toxicity attributable to ambient particulate matter

Long-term particulate matter exposure: Attributing health effects to individual PM components

“…In comparing the findings of the long-term CAPs studies cited herein with the short-term studies previously reviewed by these authors (Rohr and Wyzga, 2012) as well as others (Lippmann et al, 2009;Kelly and Fussell, 2012), there is some consistency. It should be noted that while the traditional definition of a "chronic" toxicology study is 2 years in duration, we relaxed this criterion here to include studies of at least 5 months duration.…”

“…Similar language can be found in the Agency's Policy Assessment (EPA, 2011): "Staff concludes that there is insufficient information at this time to consider supplementing the mass-based PM 2.5 indicator by considering a separate indicator for ultrafine particles or for a specific PM 2.5 component or group of components associated with any source categories of fine particles, or for eliminating any individual component or group of components from the mix of fine particles included in the PM 2.5 mass-based indicator." Several reviews have concluded that there are components that appear to be playing a comparatively greater role in health effects (Rohr and Wyzga, 2012;Kelly and Fussell, 2012;Lippmann and Chen, 2009). Some investigators have posited a stronger role for carbon-containing PM components, particularly elemental or black carbon.…”

In vitro exposure to isoprene-derived secondary organic aerosol by direct deposition and its effects on <i>COX-2</i> and <i>IL-8</i> gene expression

“…PM 2.5 , in particular, has been linked to negative health outcomes with an estimated contribution of 3.2 million premature deaths worldwide as reported in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (Lim et al, 2012). Despite evidence that particle composition affects toxicity, fewer studies focus on the link between chemical composition and health/biological outcomes (Kelly and Fussell, 2012). Prior work on complex air mixtures has shown that gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) alter the composition and ultimately the toxicity of particles (Ebersviller et al, 2012a, b).…”

Use of simulated epithelial lung fluid in assessing the human health risk of Pb in urban street dust

“…Particulate matter (PM) is ubiquitous in the atmosphere and is comprised of a wide range of materials sourced from both natural processes and human activity: sea-salt, combustion-derived carbonaceous particles, sulfates, silicates, oxides, carbonates, alloys, glass and biogenic material (Kelly and Fussell, 2012). Lead is one of the most enriched metals in urban particulate matter (De Silva et al, 2016;Goix et al, 2016;Laidlaw et al, 2012;Lei et al, 2016;Sharma and Pervez, 2003;Xu et al, 2012;Zereini et al, 2005) and despite the phasing out of Pb in fuel in many countries around the world it continues to be a potentially harmful element (PHE) of concern in the urban environment.…”

“…However, given the increasing acknowledgement of the association of PM concentrations (the chemical composition, as well as the physical presence) with both short-term and long-term health consequences (Kelly and Fussell, 2015), and the recognition that it is the soluble fraction rather than the total element content that has more direct links to health effects (Adamson et al, 2000;Ghio and Devlin, 2001;Heal et al, 2005), the inhalation exposure pathway was the focus of this current study. Indeed, in many urban and high dust generating contexts it is now timely, given increasing evidence of the link between PM10s and a range of human disease pathologies (Kelly and Fussell, 2012;Kelly and Fussell, 2015;Uzu et al, 2011), to consider the potential inhalation burden and bioaccessibility of PHEs in airborne PM and other environmental samples with a particle size fraction b10 μm. The probability of inhalation depends on the particle size fraction, air movement within the exposure routes, and breathing rate.…”