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STRATEGIES TO IDENTIFY BIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN COMPLEX AIR POLLUTANT MIXTURES
Citation:
Madden, M. C. STRATEGIES TO IDENTIFY BIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN COMPLEX AIR POLLUTANT MIXTURES. Presented at Society of Toxicology, Baltimore, MD, March 21-25, 2004.
Description:
Both indoor and outdoor air contains a very complex mixture of gas and particulate matter (PM) pollutants. The assessment of the role of each pollutant in the complex atmosphere in the induction of an associated health effect or a response can be difficult due to many factors, including the vast number of pollutants that may potentially induce or modify the health effect. The aim of this session is to present different strategies that have been used by researchers in attempts to identify airborne toxic components in complex mixtures. The range of strategies to be presented spans a wide spectrum of possible approaches (from study of whole populations to predictive toxicology modeling). Findings will be presented on: appropriately designed field epidemiological studies and controlled exposure studies with humans subjects aimed at determining the components of airborne ambient PM that induce increased morbidity and mortality (e.g., premature deaths, hospitalizations, asthma symptomatology); determination of airway irritants in indoor air using rodent exposures; comparative potencies of components of diesel exhaust using controlled in vitro cell exposures; and prediction of toxicity using quantitative structure-activities relationships. In each case, individual components of a polluted atmosphere were isolated or considered, and then assessed for potential bioactivity using a variety of methods. In some cases where individual components appeared to be relatively biologically inactive, different individual components were added together to assess potency. This session is timely in that the topics provide insights that may be utilized by researchers to aid in risk assessment and management of complex atmospheres such as combustion emissions, outdoor PM, and indoor air quality, all currently subject to regulation at local to federal levels. [This abstract may not represent official EPA policy.]