Ultrafine particles in alveolar macrophages from normal children.
BACKGROUND
Increased ambient levels of particulate matter <10 microm (PM(10)) from fossil fuel combustion are associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in children. However, it is unknown whether, and to what extent, pollutant particles penetrate the paediatric lower airway. The capacity of alveolar macrophages (AM) to phagocytose inhaled material was used to directly assess exposure of normal children to particles.


METHODS
AM from 22 children aged 3 months to 16 years with no respiratory symptoms were obtained by non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage prior to elective surgery. In each child the size and composition of environmental particles within single sections from 100 separate AM was determined by electron microscopy and microanalysis.


RESULTS
Single and clusters of particles were seen in AM from all children. The percentage of particle-containing AM ranged from 1% to 16% per child. Particles consisted of a carbonaceous core and all were ultrafine (<0.1 microm). Other elements such as metals and silicon were not detected. The percentage of particle-containing AM did not change with age, but was increased in children whose parents lived on a main road compared with those living on a quiet residential road (median 10% v 3%, p = 0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
All children had AM containing ultrafine carbonaceous particles. The predominant source of these particles is most likely to be from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Bunn
H J
HJ
Leicester Children's Asthma Centre, Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK.
Dinsdale
D
D
Smith
T
T
Grigg
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010316:Particle Size; D010587:Phagocytosis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014504:Urban Health
D000393:Air Pollutants; D002244:Carbon