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A panel study of airborne particulate matter composition versus concentration: Potential for inflammatory response
Masanari Watanabe1, Hisashi Noma2, Jun Kurai1
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Japan.
Insights
Airborne particulate matter (PM) may impact children's lung function more through inflammation than by its concentration. This study links higher Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels, a marker of inflammation, to reduced peak expiratory flow (PEF) in schoolchildren.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Inconsistent findings exist regarding airborne particulate matter (PM) and children's pulmonary function.
- Discrepancies may stem from varying inflammatory responses to different PM types and sources.
- Investigating the link between PM, inflammation, and lung function in children is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of airborne PM on pulmonary function in schoolchildren.
- To assess the role of inflammatory response, specifically Interleukin-8 (IL-8) production, in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured in 339 schoolchildren.
- Interleukin-8 (IL-8) production was measured in THP1 cells stimulated by collected airborne PM.
- A linear mixed model analyzed associations between PEF, PM (SPM, PM2.5), and IL-8 levels.
Main Results:
- Daily IL-8 levels correlated significantly with suspended PM (SPM) and PM2.5 concentrations.
- Increased IL-8 levels were associated with a significant decrease in PEF (-1.07 L/min per 0.83 μg/mL increase).
- No significant direct associations were found between PEF and SPM or PM2.5 mass concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Airborne PM's effect on schoolchildren's pulmonary function may be mediated by pro-inflammatory responses.
- Inflammatory markers like IL-8 appear more critical than PM mass concentration in determining lung function impact.
- This highlights the importance of understanding the biological response to PM exposure in pediatric populations.
Background:
The relationship between airborne particulate matter (PM) and pulmonary function in children has not been consistent among studies, potentially owing to differences in the inflammatory response to PM, based on PM types and sources. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of airborne PM on pulmonary function in schoolchildren and its potential for an inflammatory response.
Methods:
Daily morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured in 339 schoolchildren in February 2015. Interleukin (IL)-8 production was assessed in THP1 cells stimulated by airborne PM collected every day during the study period, and these IL-8 concentrations are described as the daily IL-8 levels. A linear mixed model was used to estimate the association between PEF values and the daily levels of suspended PM (SPM), PM diameters smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), and IL-8.
Results:
The daily IL-8 levels were significantly associated with those of SPM and PM2.5. A 0.83 μg/mL increase in IL-8 levels was significantly associated with a -1.07 L/min (95% confidence interval, -2.05 to -0.08) decrease in PEF. A 12.0 μg/m3 increase in SPM and a 10.0 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 were associated with a -1.36 L/min (-2.93 to 0.22) and -1.72 L/min (-3.82 to 0.36) decreases in PEF, respectively. There were no significant relationships between PEF, SPM, and PM2.5.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that the effects of airborne PM on pulmonary function in schoolchildren might depend more on the pro-inflammatory response than the mass concentration of the PM.
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