Cytological damage of nasal epithelium associated with decreased glutathione peroxidase in residents from a heavily polluted city.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cytological damage and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) content in the nasal epithelium of residents of Southwest Metropolitan Mexico City (SWMMC) along 1 year of ozone and PM(10) exposure.


METHODS
Four nasal scrapings were obtained in 20 volunteers from a control low polluted city and SWMMC permanent residents (n = 20) during 1 year. The scrapings were obtained in September and December 2004, and February and May 2005. One part of the scraping was stained by hematoxylin-eosin technique for cytological evaluation and a second part was stained by immunocytochemistry method to evaluate GPX concentration by morphometry.


RESULTS
Control subjects: in total, 30% had no cytological alterations and 70% showed only mild or moderate inflammation in four nasal scrapings. All SWMMC residents showed moderate to severe inflammatory processes in some scrapings. Additionally, dysplasia was found once (in 2 cases) or more than on scraping in five cases (25%). GPX concentration in the control group remained highest in median values throughout the study. SWMMC residents with the highest median values of GPX content were found in the May and September scrapings, and the lowest median values were found in December and February when Ozone and PM(10) levels are increased (P < or = 0.05). A lower GPX content was found as the cytological damage increased (P < or = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Cytological evaluation of nasal epithelium and GPX immunodetection are satisfactory methods to evaluate the earliest damage produced by atmospheric pollution in heavily contaminated cities.
Hernández-Escobar
S A
SA
Pathology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico, Mexico.
Avila-Casado
M C
MC
Soto-Abraham
V
V
López Escudero
O L
OL
Soto
M E
ME
Vega-Bravo
M L
ML
van der Goes
T Fortoul
TF
Reyes-Maldonado
Elba
E
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012621:Seasons; D014504:Urban Health; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010126:Ozone; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase