title: PM10 mass concentration and oxidative capacity of moxa smoke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The burning of moxa floss in moxibustion releases moxa smoke containing a substantial amount of particulate matter (PM10) into the environment, which has generated safety concerns about its potential health impact.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasmid scission assay was performed using PM10 collected from moxibustion clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  PM10 was collected in winter 2012 by burning three types of moxa floss samples in moxibustion simulation clinics, and the resulting PM10 mass concentration was calculated. Oxidative capacity of the PM10 samples was measured by plasmid scission assay and the percentage of DNA damage at dosage 500 µg ml(-1) (D500) was calculated by linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average PM10 mass concentration of samples A (3 years and 3:1 ratio), B (3 years and 8:1 ratio) and C (10 years and 3:1 ratio) was 273.33, 172.22 and 168.89 μg/m(3), respectively. The D500 oxidative capacity of PM10 was on average 24.25%, 27.83% and 28.07% for samples A, B and C, respectively. No significant difference was found in the PM10-induced oxidative damage by moxa smoke produced from the three types of moxa floss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PM10 mass concentrations from the three types of moxa floss combustion exceeded internationally recommended levels. Despite so, PM10 mass concentration of moxa smoke was much lower than biomass and coal combustion and similar to that of gas combustion. The oxidative DNA damage induced by individual PM10 in moxibustion environment was lower than that reported in other environments, indicating that moxibustion-derived PM10 might not be as injurious to human health as generally assumed.
authors.affiliation: From the School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China and.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: From the School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China and.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: From the School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China and.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China baixiao100@gmail.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009071:Moxibustion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry; D012906:Smoke / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012906:Smoke