OBJECTIVE: We compared the
adverse effects of two types of real ambient particles; i.e., total
suspended particles from an
electrostatic precipitator of a
steel mill and fine
air particles from an urban
ambient particulate matter of 2.5 µm, on
mucociliary clearance .
METHOD: Mucociliary function was quantified by
mucociliary transport , ciliary beating frequency and the amount of
acid and neutral mucous in
epithelial cells through morphometry of frog
palate preparations. The
palates were immersed in one of the following
solutions total
suspended particles (0.1 mg/mL),
particulate matter 2.5 µm 0.1 mg/mL (PM0.1) or 3.0 mg/mL (PM3.0) and
amphibian Ringer’s
solution (control). Particle chemical compositions were determined by
X-ray fluorescence and
gas chromatography /
mass spectrometry .
RESULTS: Exposure to total
suspended particles and PM3.0 decreased
mucociliary transport . Ciliary beating frequency was diminished by total
suspended particles at all times during exposure, while
particulate matter of 2.5 µm did not elicit changes.
Particulate matter of 2.5 µm reduced epithelial mucous and
epithelium thickness, while total
suspended particles behaved similarly to the
control group . Total
suspended particles exhibited a predominance of Fe and no organic compounds, while the
particulate matter 2.5 µm contained predominant amounts of S, Fe, Si and, to a lesser extent, Cu, Ni, V, Zn and organic compounds.
CONCLUSION: Our results showed that different compositions of particles induced different
airway epithelial responses, emphasizing that
knowledge of their individual characteristics may help to establish
policies aimed at controlling
air pollution .