title: Characterization of urban atmospheres during inhalation exposure studies in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
abstract: An inhalation exposure study for particulate matter (PM) investigates links between exposure and observed changes in respiratory function by evaluating the interactions of chemical and physical properties of the PM with physiological mechanisms. Laboratory studies are useful in this regard, but provide limited information because of the difficulty in reproducing real atmospheric PM compositions and processes. To better understand the types of particles to which people are actually exposed in their daily lives, and the human health risks for source-specific PM, a real world assessment of the source-to-receptor pathways for ambient PM is vital. This was accomplished using a unique mobile air research laboratory (AirCARE1) which enables inhalation exposure studies in real-world settings. The overall goal of this study was to determine the effects of concentrated air particulates (CAPs) from 2 different urban atmospheres in Michigan on the lungs of ovalbumin-sensitized rats concurrently challenged with the allergen. Our work demonstrated that short-term (8 hours) exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter <or= 2.5 microm; PM2.5) concentrated from 2 different urban atmospheres in Michigan induced distinct allergic responses in the lungs of rats. This paper presents detailed characterization of CAPs and their sources in an effort to define possible associations between the observed health effects and source-specific ambient PM2.5.
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Laboratory, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, USA. jkeeler@umich.edu
authors.forename: Gerald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Keeler
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Jack R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harkema
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002947:Cities; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D010047:Ovalbumin