Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters
Published on: July 12, 2024
Toxicological effects of traffic-related air pollution on the lungs: Evidence, biomarkers and intervention
Jiani Xiao1, Ping Cheng2, Ping Ma3
1XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
Background:
Numerous epidemiological studies have recently observed that exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with increased risk of various respiratory diseases. Major gaps in knowledge remain regarding the toxicological effects.
Objectives:
We examined the toxicological effects of the gasoline exhaust particles (GEP), a paradigm of TRAP, in rats, with an objective to provide the evidence, obtain the biomarkers, and suggest effective intervention measure.
Methods:
We measured the airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, histological changes in the lung tissues, and the biomarkers so as to systematically examine the toxicological effects of GEPs at different dose levels (0.5, 2.5, 5 mg/kg BW). The intervention of vitamin E (VE), a natural antioxidant, on the toxicological effects was investigated.
Results:
The lung injury caused by GEP exposure was first indicated by the airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Compared with the control group, GEP exposure significantly increased the airway resistances and decreased the lung compliance; the higher the dose of GEP, the more serious the lung injury. Lung injury was also revealed by the increase of inflammatory cells, including the lymphocytes and neutrophils, in the BAL fluid. With the increase of GEP dose, histological changes in the lung tissues were further observed: inflammatory cell infiltration increased and alveolar wall thickened. The toxicology of GEP was demonstrated by the increase of the biomarkers of the oxidative stress, the pro-inflammatory cytokines and the apoptosis cytokine. However, administration of VE was found to be effective in restoring airway injury.
Conclusion:
The toxicological effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on rat lungs are supported by evidence and biomarkers, and vitamin E intervention is feasible.
More Related Videos
14:48Visualizing Lung Cellular Adaptations during Combined Ozone and LPS Induced Murine Acute Lung Injury
Published on: March 21, 2021
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...