You are here:
Comparative Toxicity of Soy Biodiesel and Diesel Emissions in Healthy and Allergic Mice
Citation:
Gavett, S., M. Williams, J. Cyphert, E. Boykin, M. Daniels, L. Copeland, D. Andrews, J. Richards, AND Ian Gilmour. Comparative Toxicity of Soy Biodiesel and Diesel Emissions in Healthy and Allergic Mice. Presented at Society of Toxicology, March 10 - 14, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
Alternative soy biofuel emissions have comparable or reduced adverse effects relative to diesel emissions in healthy mice or a mouse model of allergic asthma
Description:
Toxicity from combustion of 100% soy-based biodiesel (B100) was compared to that of petrodiesel (B0) or a 20% biodiesel / 80% petrodiesel mix (B20) in healthy and house dust mite (HDM)-allergic Balb/cJ mice. Exhaust from combustion of B0, B20, or B100 was diluted to target concentrations of 50, 150, or 500 μg/m3 as determined by real-time TEOM. Studies in healthy mice showed greater levels of MIP-2 and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid 2 hr after a single 4 hr exposure to B0 compared with exposure to biodiesel emissions (air control neutrophils = 1x, B0 = 11.9x, B20 = 4.4x, B100 = 2.1x). However these differences were attenuated 24 hr after exposure and no consistent differences were observed 2 or 24 hr after 5 d (4 hr/d) or 4 wk (5 d/wk) exposures. Mice sensitized and challenged intranasally with HDM and exposed to B0, B20, or B100 for 4 wk (5 d/wk) had no emissions-related differences in airway hyperresponsiveness to MCh aerosol (determined by total lung resistance in anesthetized, paralyzed and ventilated mice). Non-significant trends of decreased eosinophils and IL-5 in BAL fluid were found after exposure to the 500 μg/m3 concentration of all 3 fuels. Proliferative responses of peribronchiolar lymph node cells in response to HDM antigens in vitro were not significantly affected by exposure to fuel emissions. We conclude that alternative soy biofuel emissions have comparable or reduced adverse effects relative to diesel emissions in healthy mice or a mouse model of allergic asthma. (This abstract does not represent U.S. EPA policy.)