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Differential Effects of Particulate Matter Upwind and Downwind of an Urban Freeway in an Allergic Mouse Model
Citation:
McGee, M., J. Mcgee, Todd Krantz, A. Kamal, C. Wood, J. Dye, Ian Gilmour, AND S. Gavett. Differential Effects of Particulate Matter Upwind and Downwind of an Urban Freeway in an Allergic Mouse Model. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 49(6):3930-9, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
Note: Title was modified from "Effects of Near-Road Particulate Matter on Respiratory Responses and Inflammation in Healthy and Ovalbumin-Allergic Mice" per Dr. Gavett-----Analysis of near road particulate matter (PM) collected from a site next to I-96 in Detroit, MI showed that PM upwind of the freeway was dominated by soil and wood combustion sources while the downwind PM was dominated by traffic sources. Different PM size fractions from upwind and downwind directions had differential effects on lung inflammation in a mouse model of allergic asthma, showing the importance of PM source and traffic-related pollution in exacerbation of pulmonary responses. These results complement epidemiological studies related to the NEXUS project.
Description:
Near-road exposure to air pollutants has been associated with decreased lung function and other adverse health effects in susceptible populations. This study was designed to investigate whether different types of near-road particulate matter (PM) contribute to exacerbation of allergic asthma. Samples of upwind and downwind coarse, fine, and ultrafine PM were collected using a wind direction-actuated ChemVol sampler at a single site 100 m from lnterstate-96 in Detroit, MI during winter 2010/2011. Upwnd PM was enriched in crustal and wood combustion sources while downwind PM was dominated by traffic sources. Control and ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/cJ mice were exposed via oropharyngeal (OP) aspiration to 20 or 100 µg of each PM sample 2 h prior to OP challenge with OVA. In OVA-allergic mice, 100 µg of downwind coarse PM caused greater increases than downwind fine/ultrafine PM in bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophis, eosinophils, and lactate dehydrogenase. Upwind fine PM (100 µg) produced greater increases in neutrophils and eosinophils compared to other upwind size fractions . Cytokine (IL-5) levels in BAL fluid also increased markedly following 100 µg downwind coarse and downwind ultrafine PM exposures. These findings indicate coarse PM downwind and fine PM upwind of an interstate highway promote inflammation in allergic mice.
