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Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters
Published on: July 12, 2024
Inhalation bioacessibility and lung cell penetration of indoor PM2.5-bound PAEs and its implication in risk
Mantuo Huang1, Yuqi Zeng1, Kesong Luo1
1School of Environment, South China Normal University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Abstract:
Several studies have evaluated the human exposure of phthalate esters (PAEs) in PM2.5 via inhalation route, however, inhalation bioaccessibility and the lung cell penetration of PAEs were barely considered in risk assessment. In the present study, PM2.5 samples collected from indoor environments were investigated for inhalation bioaccessibility of PAEs using two simulated lung fluids (gamble's solution (GMB) and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF)). The results showed that the inhalation bioaccessibility of PAEs (except for diethyl phthalate) under healthy state (GMB: 8.9%-62.8%) was lower than that under the inflammatory condition (ALF: 14.5%-67.6%). Lung cell permeation and metabolism of three selected PAEs (diethyl phthalate, di(n-butyl)phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) was tested using equivalent lung cell (A549) model. The inhalation bioavailability obtained by combination of the bioaccessibility of PAEs in indoor PM2.5 and permeability data of A549 cell ranged from 11.7% to 51.1% in health condition, and 13.5%-55.0% in inflammatory state. The calibration parameter (Fc) based on the inhalation bioavailability was established in present study and could provide a reference for a more accurate risk assessment of PM2.5-bound PAEs.

