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Air pollution and retained particles in the lung.
M Brauer1, C Avila-Casado, T I Fortoul
1School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada. brauer@interchange.ubc.ca
Environmental Health Perspectives
|October 25, 2001
Summary
Residents of high air pollution areas retain significantly more lung particles. Mexico City lungs showed higher concentrations of ultrafine carbon and aluminum silicate aggregates compared to Vancouver lungs.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Particulate air pollution is linked to cardiopulmonary issues.
- Biological mechanisms and particle retention in lungs are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare lung parenchymal particle content between high and low air pollution regions.
- To investigate the types of particles retained in the lungs.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed autopsy lung tissue from never-smoking females in Mexico City (high PM(10)) and Vancouver (low PM(10)).
- Dissolved lung tissue in bleach and quantified particles using analytical electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Mexico City lungs had significantly higher total particle concentrations (2,055 x 10^6 particles/g) than Vancouver lungs (279 x 10^6 particles/g).
- Mexico City lungs contained substantial amounts of ultrafine carbonaceous spheres and aluminum silicate aggregates (25% of total particles).
- These aggregates were rarely found in Vancouver lungs.
Conclusions:
- High ambient particle levels lead to significant pulmonary retention of fine and ultrafine particle aggregates.
- Retained particles include combustion products like carbon and aluminum silicates.
- This provides direct evidence of particle accumulation in lungs due to air pollution exposure.