Abstract
Background:
Previous studies on controlled short-term exposures to diesel exhaust (DE) have showed mixed results on health effects. DE from diesel-powered trains may penetrate to passenger carriages affecting air quality. In the present study, 29 healthy volunteers were exposed to real-life concentrations of DE while siting as passengers in diesel trains. The exposure scenario consisted of 3 consecutive days (6 hours/day). The concentrations of air pollutants were monitored with equipment carried by the volunteers and health effects were assessed in the end of the third day. Exposure in electric trains was used as control scenario, in a randomized cross-over study design.
Results:
All the assessed air pollution components were considerably higher in the passenger carriages of diesel compared with electric trains. Average increases (and fold differences) in passenger carriages of diesel trains were for ultrafine particles 1.8x105 particles/cm3 (23-fold), black carbon 8.5 μg/m3 (6-fold), NOx 316 μg/m3 (8-fold) and NO2 36 μg/m3 (3-fold). Complementary measurements of particulate matter collected on filters showed average increases of 34 μg/m3 (2-fold) PM2.5 with 0.14 ng/m3 (6-fold) higher content of benzo(a)pyrene in diesel compared with electric trains. Time-series data from the diesel train showed that DE levels were higher when the locomotive was in pull compared to push mode and influenced by the locomotive in use and the position inside the train. Travelling inside the diesel trains was associated with reduced lung function and increased DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), while
oxidative damage to DNA was unaltered. No association was found for soluble cell adhesion molecules and acute phase proteins in blood. Also the urinary excretion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites was unaltered. Furthermore, no changes were observed for microvascular function and time-domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV), whereas an increase in the low frequency of HRV was observed.
Conclusion:
Being inside diesel trains during an equivalent working day and for 3 consecutive days, was associated with reduced lung function, increased DNA strand breaks in PBMC and altered low frequency of HRV compared with electric trains.
Previous studies on controlled short-term exposures to diesel exhaust (DE) have showed mixed results on health effects. DE from diesel-powered trains may penetrate to passenger carriages affecting air quality. In the present study, 29 healthy volunteers were exposed to real-life concentrations of DE while siting as passengers in diesel trains. The exposure scenario consisted of 3 consecutive days (6 hours/day). The concentrations of air pollutants were monitored with equipment carried by the volunteers and health effects were assessed in the end of the third day. Exposure in electric trains was used as control scenario, in a randomized cross-over study design.
Results:
All the assessed air pollution components were considerably higher in the passenger carriages of diesel compared with electric trains. Average increases (and fold differences) in passenger carriages of diesel trains were for ultrafine particles 1.8x105 particles/cm3 (23-fold), black carbon 8.5 μg/m3 (6-fold), NOx 316 μg/m3 (8-fold) and NO2 36 μg/m3 (3-fold). Complementary measurements of particulate matter collected on filters showed average increases of 34 μg/m3 (2-fold) PM2.5 with 0.14 ng/m3 (6-fold) higher content of benzo(a)pyrene in diesel compared with electric trains. Time-series data from the diesel train showed that DE levels were higher when the locomotive was in pull compared to push mode and influenced by the locomotive in use and the position inside the train. Travelling inside the diesel trains was associated with reduced lung function and increased DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), while
oxidative damage to DNA was unaltered. No association was found for soluble cell adhesion molecules and acute phase proteins in blood. Also the urinary excretion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites was unaltered. Furthermore, no changes were observed for microvascular function and time-domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV), whereas an increase in the low frequency of HRV was observed.
Conclusion:
Being inside diesel trains during an equivalent working day and for 3 consecutive days, was associated with reduced lung function, increased DNA strand breaks in PBMC and altered low frequency of HRV compared with electric trains.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 12 Sept 2019 |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Sept 2019 |
| Event | 12th International Particle Toxicology Conference : IPTC2019 - Salzburg, Austria Duration: 11 Sept 2019 → 13 Sept 2019 |
Conference
| Conference | 12th International Particle Toxicology Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Austria |
| City | Salzburg |
| Period | 11/09/2019 → 13/09/2019 |
Keywords
- diesel exhaust particles
- lung function
- PAH
- Comet Assay
- Heart Rate Variability