Cellular Inflammatory Responses to Indoor-Source Particulate Matter

Cellular Inflammatory Responses to Indoor-Source Particulate Matter
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/seminars/vogel/vogel.pdf

Christoph Vogel, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Toxicology and Center for Health and the Environment
University of California, Davis

"It is well established that exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with major health impacts such as adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. Most studies have correlated these effects with outdoor pollutant exposure; however, health effects associated with indoor PM exposures have received much less attention. Indoor PM may pose a considerable health risk: potential indoor sources of PM are numerous, people spend the majority of their time indoors, and children and the elderly are particularly susceptible. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially toxic effects of PM through its ability to induce inflammation, the body's normal response to injurious stimuli. Inflammation is a short-term protective mechanism involving a number of biological factors released from a variety of cells in the body. However, chronic inflammation often results in harmful effects such as cell damage and disease. The current study investigated the response of isolated macrophage cells, which comprise one of the body's early responses against foreign material, to PM generated by indoor activities including cooking and the burning of candles, wood, and incense. Our results showed increased levels of biological factors involved in inflammation as a result of PM exposures and will be presented in detail."