Humans ; Vehicle Emissions/toxicity* ; Asthma ; Lung

Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants(TRAP)has been implicated in airway allergic diseases.Recent findings include epidemiologic and mechanistic studies that shed new light on the impact of TRAP on allergic rhinitis(AR)and the biology underlying this impact.These studies have found that oxidative stress induced by TRAP could affect the axis of epithelial cell-dendritic cell-T cell towards a T-helper 2 immune response,which is the major mechanism between TRAP and AR.Further,epigenetics and microRNA might be involved in this process.Our review will summarize the most recent findings in each of these areas.
Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; etiology ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVEThe present work aims to investigate the effects of subacute exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on reproductive function in female mice.

METHODSA total of 168 ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice were randomly divided into four groups by numeration table method, including the low (B), middle (C), high (D) dose DEP exposure groups and the control group (A). Each group consisted of 42 mice. Mice were inoculated with 30 µl DEP suspension at 0.8 (B), 3.0 (C), 12.0 (D) µg/µl, respectively, or the same volume of phosphate-buffered saline (A) on pharynx posterior wall per triduum for 4 times. The body weight and ovary weight were tested and ovary weight/body weight ratios were calculated. Rates of survival, germinal vesicle breakdown, extrusion of the first polar body, in-vitro fertilization and quantity of mitochondrial DNA for the oocytes were investigated. Ultrastructural changes of the oocytes were observed.

RESULTSThe ovary weight/body weight ratios were (15.4 ± 7.3) × 10(-5), (14.1 ± 6.8) × 10(-5), (8.2 ± 0.7) × 10(-5) and (7.2 ± 2.5) × 10(-5) in groups A, B, C and D (F = 3.841, P < 0.05). In groups A, B, C and D at 48 h post-insemination, rates of oocyte survival were 64.3%, 56.8%, 39.5% and 32.9% (χ(2) = 21.575, P < 0.05), rates of extrusion of the first polar body were 75.5%, 65.3%, 37.0% and 27.1% (χ(2) = 52.772, P < 0.05), rates of 2-cell embryos were 27.9%, 39.1%, 17.6% and 12.5% (χ(2) = 20.148, P < 0.05), and rates of embryos over 2 cells were 45.3%, 32.2%, 12.5% and 13.9% (χ(2) = 32.135, P < 0.05), respectively, and were significantly lower in groups C and D compared with group A (P < 0.05). Logarithmic values of mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were 6.54 ± 0.13, 6.48 ± 0.09, 5.57 ± 0.15 and 5.41 ± 0.07 in groups A, B, C and D, respectively, and were significantly lower in groups C and D compared with group A or B (F = 89.241, P < 0.05). A number of mitochondria of the oocytes exhibited tremendous tumescence and vacuolization in groups C and D, which was contrast to a roughly normal appearance in groups A and B.

CONCLUSIONSDEP is noxious to murine female reproduction. Subacute exposure to DEP injures the ovary and oocyte resulting in compromised ovarian function and fertilizability of the oocyte.

Animals ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oocytes ; drug effects ; Ovary ; cytology ; drug effects ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

Air pollution in China comes from multiple sources, including coal consumption, construction and industrial dust, and vehicle exhaust. Coal consumption in particular directly determines the emissions of three major air pollutants: dust, sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), and nitrogen oxide (NOx). The rapidly increasing number of civilian vehicles is expected to bring NOx emission to a very high level. Contrary to expectations, however, existing data show that the concentrations of major pollutants [particulate matter-10 (PM10), SO(2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2))] in several large Chinese cities have declined during the past decades, though they still exceed the national standards of ambient air quality. Archived data from China does not fully support that the concentrations of pollutants directly depend on local emissions, but this is likely due to inaccurate measurement of pollutants. Analyses on the cancer registry data show that cancer burden related to air pollution is on the rise in China and will likely increase further, but there is a lack of data to accurately predict the cancer burden. Past experience from other countries has sounded alarm of the link between air pollution and cancer. The quantitative association requires dedicated research as well as establishment of needed monitoring infrastructures and cancer registries. The air pollution-cancer link is a serious public health issue that needs urgent investigation.
Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; toxicity ; China ; Coal ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; toxicity ; Particulate Matter ; toxicity ; Sulfur Dioxide ; toxicity ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo study the genotoxicity of components of diesel engine exhausts with ethanol-diesel blending fuel. To provide scientific arguments to find more economical and less polluted fuels.

METHODSAmes test, comet assay and GC-MS technique were used to test the genotoxicity and 16 kinds of PAHs on diesel engine exhausts with different proportions of ethanol (E0, E5, E10, E20).

RESULTSBoth Ames test and comet assay were positive. It shows that diesel engine exhausts can lead to mutation and DNA damage, especially in pure diesel oil. But the content of 16 kinds of PAHs and DNA damage level decreased in exhausts of E5. With the increase of ethanol proportion in diesel oil, the content of 16 kinds of PAHs and DNA damage level increased.

CONCLUSIONCompared with pure diesel oil and high proportion of ethanol fuel, E5 can reduce the genotoxicity and the brake specific exhausts of PAHs.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution ; Carbon Monoxide ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Gasoline ; toxicity ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Particulate Matter ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVEAir-borne particulates from different sources could have different physicochemical properties and inflammatory potentials. This study aims to characterize the chemical compositions and the toxicity of ambient particulate matter (PM) associated with traffic emissions.

METHODSThe concentrations of trace elements, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM2.5 and PM10 were measured in samples collected at sites in Beijing, China. Their toxic effects on the pulmonary system of rats were investigated. Biochemical parameters (LDH, T-AOC, TP) and inflammatory cytokine(IL-6, IL-1, TNF-a) levels were measured in the lungs of rats exposed to traffic-related PM. Oxidative damage was observed. PM samples were taken from a near road site and an off road site in summer time in 2006.

RESULTSThe concentrations of the USEPA priority pollutant PAHs in both PM10 and PM2.5 were higher (299.658 and 348.412) at the near road site than those (237.728 and 268.472) at the off road site. The similar trend was observed for the concentrations of trace elements in PM. Compared to coarse particles (PM10), fine particles (PM2.5) have a greater adsorption capacity to enrich toxic elements than inhalable particles. Decrease in antioxidant capacity and an increase in the amount of lipid peroxidation products in rat lung tissues was observed.

CONCLUSIONThe findings of the present study suggest that the differing inflammatory responses of PM collected from the two road sites might have been mediated by the differing physicochemical characteristics.

Air Pollutants ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; China ; Cities ; Cytokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of long-term exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) from automobile exhaust on the reproductive function of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODSForty-five male SD rats, weighing 80 - 94 g and aged 28 days, were randomly assigned to receive intra-tracheal administration of 0.9% normal saline (control group, n = 15), PM2. 5 at 2 μg per 100 g body weight per day (low-dose PM2.5 group, n = 15), and PM2.5 at 16 μg per 100 g body weight per day (high-dose PM2.5 group, n = 15), qd, for 60 successive days. After the last 24-hour exposure, 10 rats were taken from each group for copulation with normal female ones, while the others were sacrificed, their testes removed for sperm count and deformity, pathological examination, and determination of the Connexin43 expression.

RESULTSThe conception rate was significantly decreased in the low- and high-dose PM2.5 groups as compared with that of the control (70% and 50% vs 100%), and so were the sperm count and quality. The rats in the PM2.5-exposed groups showed significantly disordered histological structure of the seminiferous tubules, reduced sperm count in the testicular lumen, some exfoliated secondary spermatocytes, downregulated Connexin43 expression in the testis, and damaged blood-testis barrier.

CONCLUSIONLong-term exposure to PM2.5 from automobile exhaust damages the reproductive function of male SD rats.

Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Body Weight ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Fertilization ; Male ; Particulate Matter ; toxicity ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sperm Count ; Spermatocytes ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

Adult ; Age Factors ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Police ; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity ; physiology ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; physiology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

PURPOSE: The study aims to classify schools based on traffic pollutants and their complex sources, to assess the environment, to determine the state of allergic diseases among students using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in children (ISAAC) questionnaire, and to assess their connection to air pollutants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of seven schools were divided into three categories according to the characteristics of their surrounding environments: three schools in traffic-related zones, two schools in complex source zones I (urban), and two schools in complex source zones II (industrial complex). ISAAC questionnaires were administered and the 4404 completed questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of asthma treatment during the past 12 months showed a significant increase (p<0.05) with exposure to NO2 [1.67, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.03-2.71] in the complex source zones. The frequency of allergic rhinitis treatment during the past 12 months increased significantly with exposure to Black Carbon (1.60, 95% CIs 1.36-1.90) (p<0.001), SO2 (1.09, 95% CIs 1.01-1.17) (p<0.05), NO2 (1.18, 95% CIs 1.07-1.30) (p<0.01) for all subjects. CONCLUSION: In terms of supporting children's health, care, and prevention related to major spaces for children, such as school zones, spaces used in coming to and leaving school, playgrounds, and classrooms are essential to ensuring not only the safety of children from traffic accidents but also their protection from local traffic pollutants and various hazardous environmental factors.
Adolescent ; Air Pollutants/*adverse effects ; Air Pollution/*adverse effects ; Asthma/chemically induced/*epidemiology/*etiology ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/chemically induced/*epidemiology ; Schools ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vehicle Emissions/analysis/toxicity

Allergic airway diseases are related to exposure to atmospheric pollutants, which have been suggested to be one factor in the increasing prevalence of asthma. Little is known about the effect of ozone and diesel exhaust particulates (DEP) on the development or aggravation of asthma. We have used a mouse asthma model to determine the effect of ozone and DEP on airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation. Methacholine enhanced pause (P(enh)) was measured. Levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma were quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids by enzyme immunoassays. The OVA-sensitized-challenged and ozone and DEP exposure group had higher P(enh) than the OVA-sensitized-challenged group and the OVA-sensitized-challenged and DEP exposure group, and the OVA-sensitized-challenged and ozone exposure group. Levels of IFN-gamma were decreased in the OVA-sensitized-challenged and DEP exposure group and the OVA-sensitized-challenged and ozone and DEP exposure group compared to the OVA-sensitized-challenged and ozone exposure group. Levels of IL-4 were increased in the OVA-sensitized-challenged and ozone exposure group and the OVA-sensitized-challenged and DEP exposure group, and the OVA-sensitized-challenged and ozone and DEP exposure group compared to OVA-sensitized-challenged group. Co-exposure of ozone and DEP has additive effect on airway hyperresponsiveness by modulation of IL-4 and IFN-gamma suggesting that DEP amplify Th2 immune response.
Air Pollutants, Environmental/toxicity ; Animals ; Asthma/*chemically induced/*immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Hypersensitivity/complications/*etiology/*immunology ; Interferon Type II/immunology ; Interleukin-4/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovalbumin ; Ozone/*toxicity ; Pneumonia/*chemically induced/complications/*immunology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity/chemically induced/complications/immunology ; Vehicle Emissions/*toxicity