![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081105180413im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Identifying the Physical and Chemical Properties of Particulate Matter Responsible for the Observed Adverse Health Effects
EPA Grant Number: R827353C014Subproject: this is subproject number 014 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827353
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: EPA Harvard Center for Ambient Particle Health Effects
Center Director: Koutrakis, Petros
Title: Identifying the Physical and Chemical Properties of Particulate Matter Responsible for the Observed Adverse Health Effects
Investigators: Koutrakis, Petros , Coull, Brent , Godleski, John J. , Lawrence, Joy
Institution: Harvard University
EPA Project Officer: Stacey Katz/Gail Robarge,
Project Period: June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2005 (Extended to May 31, 2006)
RFA: Airborne Particulate Matter (PM) Centers (1999)
Research Category: Particulate Matter
Description:
Objective:Although many of the individual toxicological studies described here were done with support of other grants, the final analyses were done with support from our Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PM Center. The primary objectives of the analyses conducted for this project were: to characterize the components of CAPs that are significantly associated with the development of pulmonary inflammation; to determine whether short term exposures to CAPs alter the morphology of small pulmonary arteries; and to determine if increased pathologic responses may have similarly resulted from concentrated exposures to what may be considered non-toxic silicate particles. These analyses have resulted in a number of publications, several of which are described below (Batalha, et al., 2002; Saldiva, et al., 2002; Godleski, et al., 2002).
To characterize the components of CAPs that are significantly associated with the development of pulmonary inflammation, mature male rats were exposed to CAPs using the Harvard/EPA Ambient Particle Concentrator (HAPC) to determine if pulmonary inflammation was affected in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic bronchitic (CB) rats were employed as a model of pulmonary disease (250 ppm SO2 x 5 days/week for 6 weeks). Age-matched, room air-exposed rats were used as a normal control group. For urban particle exposures, normal or CB animals were exposed by inhalation for 6 hours/day for three consecutive days to CAPs or filtered air. In all, we had six complete studies as outlined in Table 1 below. This number of experimental exposures allowed us to relate CAPs composition to animal responses. Before the first day of exposure, and after the last day of exposure, animals in each group had breathing pattern studies using the BUXCO analysis system. On the day after the last exposure, animals were sacrificed and studied by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), collection of BAL cellular RNA, total lung RNA and collection of lung and heart tissues for morphologic studies.
Table 1. Experimental Design
Date |
Total # of Animals |
Number of animals for BAL Studies |
No. of Animals for Histology Studies |
No. of Animals for BUXCO Studies |
Three-Day Mean CAPs (μg/m3) |
Conc. Factor |
|||
|
|
Air |
CB |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sham |
CAPs |
Sham |
Caps |
|
|
|
|
Mar. 1997 |
40 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
none |
170.7 |
19.9 |
June 1997 |
40 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
6-8 |
481.0 |
29.9 |
Sept 1997 |
48 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
2 |
15-21 |
187.1 |
12.1 |
Jan 1998 |
47 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
3-4 |
9-12 |
126.1 |
18.2 |
Mar. 1998 |
40 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
2-3 |
6-12 |
267.3 |
35.1 |
June 1998 |
44 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
2-4 |
8-12 |
300.7 |
38.2 |
Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 5 publications for this subproject | View all 149 publications for this center
Journal Articles:Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 5 journal articles for this subproject | View all 148 journal articles for this center
Progress and Final Reports:
Final Report
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R827353 EPA Harvard Center for Ambient Particle Health Effects
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827353C001 Assessing Human Exposures to Particulate and Gaseous Air Pollutants
R827353C002 Quantifying Exposure Error and its Effect on Epidemiological
Studies
R827353C003 St. Louis Bus, Steubenville and Atlanta Studies
R827353C004 Examining Conditions That Predispose Towards
Acute Adverse Effects of Particulate Exposures
R827353C005 Assessing Life-Shortening Associated with Exposure to
Particulate Matter
R827353C006 Investigating Chronic Effects of Exposure to Particulate
Matter
R827353C007 Determining the Effects of Particle Characteristics on Respiratory Health of Children
R827353C008 Differentiating the Roles of Particle Size, Particle Composition,
and Gaseous Co-Pollutants on Cardiac Ischemia
R827353C009 Assessing Deposition of Ambient Particles in the Lung
R827353C010 Relating Changes in Blood Viscosity, Other Clotting Parameters,
Heart Rate, and Heart Rate Variability to Particulate and Criteria Gas Exposures
R827353C011 Studies of Oxidant Mechanisms
R827353C012 Modeling Relationships Between Mobile Source Particle Emissions and Population Exposures
R827353C013 Toxicological Evaluation of Realistic Emissions of Source Aerosols (TERESA) Study
R827353C014 Identifying the Physical and Chemical Properties of Particulate Matter Responsible for the Observed Adverse Health Effects
R827353C015 Research Coordination Core
R827353C016 Analytical and Facilities Core
R827353C017 Technology Development and Transfer Core