SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF METALS, PAHs, AND PARTICLE-EXTRACT-INDUCED CYTOTOXITY OF TRAFFIC-RELATED NANO/ULTRA-FINE PARTICLES

SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF METALS, PAHs, AND PARTICLE-EXTRACT-INDUCED CYTOTOXITY OF TRAFFIC-RELATED NANO/ULTRA-FINE PARTICLES

Several epidemiologic studies have demonstrated the association of ambient ultra-fine particles (UFPs) with adverse respiratory and cardiovascular effects, resulting in morbidity and mortality in susceptible parts of the population. Coarse inhalable panicles may be deposited in the upper respiratory tract whereas fine particles travel deeper into the lungs. The finest particles can reach the alveolar regions. Several works were conducted using in vitro simulations of the respiratory environment or in vivo simulations using animal models; these studies suggested that particulate metals are correlated to pulmonary toxicity. The particle size and chemical composition of inhalable particles importantly govern their potential impacts on human health because the efficiencies of both inhalation and respiratory deposition depend on particle size, while the chemical composition mediates toxicity by the presence of specific toxic elements and influences of nonspecific particle toxicity.