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NASAL RESPONSES IN ASTHMATIC AND NONASTHMATIC SUBJECTS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLES
Citation:
KONGERUDL, J., M. C. MADDEN, M. HAZUCHA, AND D. PEDEN. NASAL RESPONSES IN ASTHMATIC AND NONASTHMATIC SUBJECTS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLES. INHALATION TOXICOLOGY. Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, 18(9):589-594, (2006).
Impact/Purpose:
To examine the role of diesel exhaust particles in the increased morbidity and mortality associated with ambient airborne PM exposure
Description:
Asthma rates have been increasing world-wide, and exposure to diesel exhaust particles may be implicated in this increase. Additionally DEP may also play a role in the increased morbidity and mortality associated with ambient airborne PM exposure. Two types of nasal responses have been reported for human subjects nasal instilled with one type of DEP: alterations in cytokines responses and an increase in IgE production. Since DEP composition can vary depending on several factors fuel composition and engine load, the ability of another source of DEP to alter nasal IgE and cytokine production was examined. Nonasthmatic and asthmatic subjects were intranasally instilled with 300 µg NIST 1650 DEP per nostril, NIST 1650 DEP previously exposed to ozone (ozDEP; 300 µg/nostril), or vehicle. Subjects underwent nasal lavege before DEP exposure, and 4 and 96 hr after exposure. Nasal cell populations and soluble mediators in the nasal lavage fluid were characterized. No alterations in total cell number or cell types were observed at either time post exposure. Concentrations of soluble mediators (including IL-8, IL-6, GM-CSF) were not altered. IgE concentratons in lavage of asthmatic subjects were not altered by either DEP or ozDEP-exposure, and levels were generally not detectable in nonasthmatic subjects. NO levels were not altered by either particle exposure. These findings suggest that DEP can be relatively noninflammatory and nontoxic, and that the physicochemical characteristics of DEP need to be considered when assessing the health effects of exposure to diesel exhaust.