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Ambient concentrations and dosimetry of inhaled size-segregated particulate matter during periods of low urban mobility in Braganca, Portugal.

ABSTRACT: The restrictive measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a timely scenario to investigate the effects of human activities on air quality, and the extent to which mobility reduction strategies can impact atmospheric pollutant levels. Real-time concentrations of PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were measured using a mobile platform in a small city of Portugal, during morning and afternoon rush hours, in two distinct phases of the pandemic: emergency phase (cold period, lockdown) and calamity phase (warm period, less restricted). The Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry Model (MPPD) was used to calculate the PM deposition for adults. Large spatio-temporal variabilities and pronounced changes in mean PM concentrations were observed, with lower concentrations in the calamity phase: PM₁ = 2.33 ± 1.61 μg m^-3; PM_2.5 = 5.15 ± 2.77 μg m^-3; PM₁₀ = 23.30 ± 21.53 μg m^-3 than in the emergency phase: PM₁ = 16.85 ± 31.80 μg m^-3; PM_2.5 = 30.92 ± 31.93 μg m^-3; PM₁₀ = 111.27 ± 104.53 μg m^-3. These changes are explained by a combination of meteorological factors and local emissions, mainly residential firewood burning. Regarding regional deposition, PM₁ was the main contributor to deposition in the tracheobronchial (5%) and pulmonary (12%) regions, and PM₁₀ in the head region (92%). In general, total deposition doses were higher for males than for females. This work quantitatively demonstrated that even with a 38% reduction in urban mobility during the lockdown, the use of firewood for residential heating is the main contributor to the high concentrations of PM and the respective inhaled dose.

SUBMITTER: Cipoli YA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9371474 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ambient concentrations and dosimetry of inhaled size-segregated particulate matter during periods of low urban mobility in Bragança, Portugal.

Cipoli Yago Alonso YA Targino Admir Créso AC Krecl Patricia P Furst Leonardo Campestrini LC Alves Célia Dos Anjos CDA Feliciano Manuel M

Atmospheric pollution research 20220811 9

The restrictive measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a timely scenario to investigate the effects of human activities on air quality, and the extent to which mobility reduction strategies can impact atmospheric pollutant levels. Real-time concentrations of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were measured using a mobile platform in a small city of Portugal, during morning and afternoon rush hours, in two distinct phases of the pandemic: emergency phase (cold p ...[more]

PMID: 35974996

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Project description:BackgroundAutoimmune diseases have increased in incidence and prevalence worldwide. While genetic predispositions play a role, environmental factors are a major contributor. Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture composed of metals, nitrates, sulfates and diverse adsorbed organic compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins. Exposure to atmospheric PM aggravates autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, among others. PAHs and dioxins are known aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands. The AHR modulates T cell differentiation and directs the balance between effector and regulatory T cells in vitro and in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of autoimmune disease. This study aims to identify pathways that contribute to autoimmune disease and their potential use as therapeutic targets to alleviate symptoms and the need for global immunosuppression. This study tests the hypothesis that atmospheric PM enhances effector T cell differentiation and aggravates autoimmune disease.ResultsAn atmospheric ambient urban dust PM sample, standard reference material (SRM)1649b, was tested for its effects on autoimmunity. SRM1649b PM enhanced Th17 differentiation in an AHR-dependent manner in vitro, however intranasal treatment of SRM1649b PM delayed onset of EAE and reduced cumulative and peak clinical scores. Chronic and acute intranasal exposure of SRM1649b PM delayed onset of EAE. Chronic intranasal exposure did not reduce severity of EAE while acute intranasal exposure significantly reduced severity of disease. Acute intranasal treatment of low dose SRM1649b PM had no effect on clinical score or day of onset in EAE. Delayed onset of EAE by intranasal SRM1649b PM was AHR-dependent in vivo. Oral gavage of SRM1649b PM, in the absence of AHR ligands in the diet, had no effect on day of disease onset or severity of EAE. Day 10 analysis of T cells in the CNS after intranasal treatment of SRM1649b PM showed a reduction of pathologic T cell subsets in vivo. Moreover, MOG-specific splenocytes require AHR to generate or maintain IL-10 producing cells and reduce IFNγ producing cells in vitro.ConclusionsThese results identify the AHR pathway as a potential target for driving targeted immunosuppression in the CNS in the context of atmospheric PM-mediated autoimmune disease. The effects of SRM1649b PM on EAE are dependent on route of exposure, with intranasal treatment reducing severity of EAE and delaying disease onset while oral gavage has no effect. Intranasal SRM1649b PM reduces pathologic T cells in the CNS, specifically Th1 cells and Th1Th17 double positive cells, leading to reduced severity of EAE and AHR-dependent delayed disease onset. Additionally, SRM1649b PM treatment of antigen-specific T cells leads to AHR-dependent increase in percent IL-10 positive cells in vitro. These findings may shed light on the known increase of infection after exposure to atmospheric PM and serve as the first step in identifying components of the AHR pathway responsible for Th1-mediated immunosuppression in response to atmospheric PM exposure.

Dataset Information

Ambient concentrations and dosimetry of inhaled size-segregated particulate matter during periods of low urban mobility in Braganca, Portugal.

Publications

Ambient concentrations and dosimetry of inhaled size-segregated particulate matter during periods of low urban mobility in Bragança, Portugal.

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