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2002 Progress Report: Effect of Exposure to Freeways with Heavy Diesel Traffic and Gasoline Traffic on Asthma Mouse Model

EPA Grant Number: R827352C004
Subproject: this is subproject number 004 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827352
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).

Center: Southern California Particle Center and Supersite
Center Director: Froines, John R.
Title: Effect of Exposure to Freeways with Heavy Diesel Traffic and Gasoline Traffic on Asthma Mouse Model
Investigators: Kleinman, Michael T. , Cho, Arthur K. , Froines, John R. , Miguel, Antonio , Sioutas, Constantinos
Current Investigators: Kleinman, Michael T. , Cho, Arthur K. , Froines, John R. , Sioutas, Constantinos
Institution: University of California - Los Angeles , Michigan State University , University of California - Irvine , University of Southern California
Current Institution: University of California - Irvine , University of California - Los Angeles , University of Southern California
EPA Project Officer: Stacey Katz/Gail Robarge,
Project Period: June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2005 (Extended to May 31, 2006)
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2001 through May 31, 2002
RFA: Airborne Particulate Matter (PM) Centers (1999)
Research Category: Particulate Matter

Description:

Objective:

The overall objective of this research project is to focus on the central hypothesis of the Southern California Particle Center and Supersite, which is that organic constituents associated with particulate matter—including quinones, other organic compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], nitro-PAHs, and aldehydes/ketones), and metals—are capable of generating reactive oxygen species and acting as electrophilic agents. They have a central role in allergic airway disease such as asthma and cardiovascular effects through their ability to generate oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunomodulating effects in the lungs and airways.

The specific objectives of this research project are to: (1) determine whether exposure to ultrafine and fine particles increases allergic responses in mice at varying distances from freeways; (2) demonstrate that fine and ultrafine concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) can act as an adjuvant in the development or exacerbation of airway allergic reactions and inflammation; and (3) identify components of ultrafine or fine ambient particles that might cause these responses.

Progress Summary:

Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized Balb/c mice were exposed to CAPs and to purified air at three sites at increasing distances from a heavily trafficked roadway in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, CA. The three sites were 50 m (BH1), 100 m (BH2), and 500 m (BH3) downwind of a freeway that is characterized as having a large fraction of heavy-duty diesel traffic. Exposure to CAPs elicited significant increases in the number of eosinophils, increased concentrations of IL-5 in lavage fluid, and increased concentrations of OVA-specific IgG1 in the blood serum of mice exposed at BH1, but not BH2 or BH3, compared to measurements in mice exposed to purified air. A two-factor analysis of variance showed that for each of these endpoints, mice exposed at BH1 showed changes consistent with allergic responses to the OVA-challenge following CAP exposure, but not after purified air exposure (eosinophils, p = 0.04; IL-5, p < 0.001; IgG1, p = 0.002). Particle numbers at BH1 were five to eight times those measured at BH2 or BH3 during the exposures.

The initial results from this study suggest that exposure to combined fine plus ultrafine particles at sites near a heavily trafficked roadway can elicit allergic responses in animals that also are exposed to a foreign protein (in this case OVA). The effects of the exposures were lessened as the distance from the roadway increased and the exposures to ultrafine particles decreased. The importance of this finding is that it is consistent with the role of an environmental contaminant (ambient fine and ultrafine particles) in the exacerbation and/or development of allergic airway diseases such as asthma. Additional studies now are underway to specifically examine the roles of ultrafine particles. Detailed chemical analyses are being conducted to evaluate the potential roles of reactive organic and metallic constituents of fine and ultrafine ambient particles.

In the current reporting period, the studies were expanded to include exposures to concentrated ultrafine particles alone. Biologically significant responses were observed.

Future Activities:

We will complete the exposures of mice at the two Boyle Heights sites (BH1 and BH2) with data for both summer and winter seasons during Year 4 of the project. A manuscript of the results will be prepared and submitted. During Year 5 of the project, the study will shift to a freeway with emissions dominated by gasoline-powered vehicles. Detailed particle size and chemical composition data will be taken. A paper comparing the relative effects of diesel- and gasoline-engine emissions in the allergic mouse model will be prepared.

Supplemental Keywords:

particulate matter, quinones, PAHs, aldehydes, ketones, metals, allergic airway disease, human health risk, asthma, mobile source emissions modeling, diesel exhaust particles, concentrated ambient particles (CAPs), California, freeway study, , HUMAN HEALTH, Air, Geographic Area, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, Health Effects, Risk Assessments, Air Pollutants, Biochemistry, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, State, aerosols, California (CA), airborne urban contaminants, toxicity, allergens, particle concentrator, diesel exhaust particulates, diesel exhaust, human health risk, human health effects, particulates, toxicology, air pollution, airway disease, atmospheric chemistry, PAH, allergic airway disease, ambient aerosol, asthma, human exposure, animal model, particle transport, particulate exposure
Relevant Websites:

http://www.scpcs.ucla.edu/ exit EPA

Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
Final Report


Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R827352    Southern California Particle Center and Supersite

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827352C001 The Chemical Toxicology of Particulate Matter
R827352C002 Pro-inflammatory and the Pro-oxidative Effects of Diesel Exhaust Particulate in Vivo and in Vitro
R827352C003 Measurement of the “Effective” Surface Area of Ultrafine and Accumulation Mode PM (Pilot Project)
R827352C004 Effect of Exposure to Freeways with Heavy Diesel Traffic and Gasoline Traffic on Asthma Mouse Model
R827352C005 Effects of Exposure to Fine and Ultrafine Concentrated Ambient Particles near a Heavily Trafficked Freeway in Geriatric Rats (Pilot Project)
R827352C006 Relationship Between Ultrafine Particle Size Distribution and Distance From Highways
R827352C007 Exposure to Vehicular Pollutants and Respiratory Health
R827352C008 Traffic Density and Human Reproductive Health
R827352C009 The Role of Quinones, Aldehydes, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and other Atmospheric Transformation Products on Chronic Health Effects in Children
R827352C010 Novel Method for Measurement of Acrolein in Aerosols
R827352C011 Off-Line Sampling of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Respiratory Health Surveys
R827352C012 Controlled Human Exposure Studies with Concentrated PM
R827352C013 Particle Size Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the LAB
R827352C014 Physical and Chemical Characteristics of PM in the LAB (Source Receptor Study)
R827352C015 Exposure Assessment and Airshed Modeling Applications in Support of SCPC and CHS Projects
R827352C016 Particle Dosimetry
R827352C017 Conduct Research and Monitoring That Contributes to a Better Understanding of the Measurement, Sources, Size Distribution, Chemical Composition, Physical State, Spatial and Temporal Variability, and Health Effects of Suspended PM in the Los Angeles Basin (LAB)

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.


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