[Effects of airborne fine particulate matter on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function].

OBJECTIVE: to explore effects of airborne fine particulate matter exposure on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. METHODS: one hundred and seven field traffic policemen were recruited as airborne fine particulate matter high-exposure group and one hundred and one male residents as common exposure group. The individual sampler was used to measure fine particulate matter exposure levels of the two groups. To obtain personal information, especially respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, etc. a questionnaire survey was used. The pulmonary ventilation function was detected: forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), the first 1 second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0), FVC/FEV1.0% and peak flow values (PEF), and the difference of fine particulate matter exposure level and respiratory function of the two groups was compared. RESULTS: 24 h individual average fine particulate matter exposure concentration of traffic police and residents were respectively (115.4 ± 46.17) microg/m(3) and (74.94 ± 40.09) microg/m(3), the traffic police PM2.5 exposure levels were significantly higher than the residents. In the incidence of respiratory symptoms, compared with high-exposure group and common exposure group, coughing, expectoration, throat unwell, asthma, short of breath and nose discomfort, traffic police group was higher than residents group (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of lung ventilation function indexes, such as FVC and FEV1.0 was 25.23% and 12.15% respectively in high-exposure group, 11.88% and 2.97% in common exposure group, there was no statistical difference between two groups. Besides, the abnormal rate of FVC and FEV1.0, showed rising trend in high-exposure group with seniority. CONCLUSION: long-term higher levels of airborne fine particulate matter exposure, may impact respiratory health and impair pulmonary function.

[Study of genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cell line induced by 14 nm and 280 nm carbon black particles in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cell line induced by 14 nm and 280 nm carbon black (CB) particles with micronucleus assay (CBMN), comet assay and hprt gene mutation test in vitro. METHODS: The genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells exposed to 14 nm and 280 nm CB particles at the doses of 0, 128, 256, 384 and 512 microg/ml for 24 h and 48 h was detected using above three genotoxic assays. Micronucleus (MN) assay, comet assay, hprt gene mutation test were used to detect the genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells induced by CB. Micronucleus rate (MNR), micronucleated cell rate (MCR), nuclear buds (Buds), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs), nuclear division index (NDI) and numbers of apoptotic cells served as indexes of CBMN assay; the percentage of DNA in the tail (% tail DNA) and the olive tail moment (OTM) were used as DNA damage indicators of comet assay; the hprt gene mutation frequency (Mf-hprt) served as the index of hprt gene mutation test. RESULTS: The % tail DNA, OTM in 14 nm CB group at the doses of 384 and 512 microg/ml for 48 h were 8.23% +/- 0.19%, 11.23% +/- 0.42% and 3.72 +/- 0.08, 4.90 +/- 0.18, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in control (5.10% +/- 0.08% and 2.22 +/- 0.03) (P < 0.01). The apoptotic cell rates in 14 nm CB group at the doses of 384 and 512 microg/ml for 48 h were 4.67 +/- 0.33 and 5.33 +/- 0.33, respectively, which were significantly higher than in control (0.00 +/- 0.00) (P < 0.05). The results of Mf-hprt were negative. CONCLUSION: The genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells exposed to 14 nm CB particles for 48 h could be detected. But the similar effects didn't appear in 280 nm CB group.

[Effects of volatile organic compounds inhalation on the inflammation biomarkers in nasal lavage fluids of decoration workers].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inhalation on the inflammation biomarkers in nasal lavage fluid (NAL), and to assess the practicability of the nasal lavage methods. METHODS: 32 volunteers joined in this study, among whom 20 Painters were chosen as exposed group, and 12 plumbers and electricians were chosen as controls. Lung function was detected, and several inflammation biomarkers (IL-4, IL-5, ECP) in nasal lavage (NAL) were determined. RESULTS: The average FEV1 of exposed group was 3.08L, which was significantly lower than the control. And the concentration levels of inflammation biomarkers in NAL of painters were higher than that of the control. Among these detected biomarkers, the ECP level was significantly higher in exposed group than in control group(the mean was 3.57 microg/L in painter and 2.79 microg/L in the control, respectively). Moreover, there was statistically negative correlation between ECP level and FEV1 (a kind of lung function parameters), the correlated coefficient was -0.381. CONCLUSION: Inhalation of VOCs could be responsible for the occurrence of respiratory inflammation and allergic illness such as rhinitis and asthma. Moreover, the method of nasal lavage is practicable for population study.