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Fiamingo M, Toler S, Lee K, Oshiro W, Krantz T, Evansky P, Davies D, Gilmour MI, Farraj A, Hazari MS. Depleted Housing Elicits Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction After a Single Flaming Eucalyptus Wildfire Smoke Exposure in a Sex-Specific Manner in ApoE Knockout Mice. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2024:10.1007/s12012-024-09897-8. [PMID: 39044058 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-024-09897-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Although it is well established that wildfire smoke exposure can increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the combined effects of non-chemical stressors and wildfire smoke remains understudied. Housing is a non-chemical stressor that is a major determinant of cardiovascular health, however, disparities in neighborhood and social status have exacerbated the cardiovascular health gaps within the United States. Further, pre-existing cardiovascular morbidities, such as atherosclerosis, can worsen the response to wildfire smoke exposures. This represents a potentially hazardous interaction between inadequate housing and stress, cardiovascular morbidities, and worsened responses to wildfire smoke exposures. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of enriched (EH) versus depleted (DH) housing on pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to a single flaming eucalyptus wildfire smoke (WS) exposure in male and female apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice, which develop an atherosclerosis-like phenotype. The results of this study show that cardiopulmonary responses to WS exposure occur in a sex-specific manner. EH blunts adverse WS-induced ventilatory responses, specifically an increase in tidal volume (TV), expiratory time (Te), and relaxation time (RT) after a WS exposure, but only in females. EH also blunted an increase in isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and the myocardial performance index (MPI) 1-week after exposures, also only in females. Our results suggest that housing alters the cardiovascular response to a single WS exposure, and that DH might cause increased susceptibility to environmental exposures that manifest in altered ventilation patterns and diastolic dysfunction in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Fiamingo
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sydnie Toler
- Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kaleb Lee
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA
| | - Wendy Oshiro
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Todd Krantz
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Paul Evansky
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - David Davies
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Aimen Farraj
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Mehdi S Hazari
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
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2
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Fiamingo M, Bailey A, Toler S, Lee K, Oshiro W, Yoo B, Krantz T, Evansky P, Davies D, Gilmour MI, Farraj A, Jaspers I, Hazari MS. Enriched housing differentially alters allostatic load and cardiopulmonary responses to wildfire-related smoke in male and female mice. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2024; 87:561-578. [PMID: 38721998 PMCID: PMC11167957 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2024.2346582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Living conditions are an important modifier of individual health outcomes and may lead to higher allostatic load (AL). However, housing-induced cardiovascular and immune effects contributing to altered environmental responsiveness remain understudied. This investigation was conducted to examine the influence of enriched (EH) versus depleted housing (DH) conditions on cardiopulmonary functions, systemic immune responses, and allostatic load in response to a single wildfire smoke (WS) exposure in mice. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were divided into EH or DH for 22 weeks, and cardiopulmonary assessments measured before and after exposures to either one-hr filtered air (FA) or flaming eucalyptus WS exposure. Male and female DH mice exhibited increased heart rate (HR) and left ventricular mass (LVM), as well as reduced stroke volume and end diastolic volume (EDV) one week following exposure to WS. Female DH mice displayed significantly elevated levels of IL-2, IL-17, corticosterone and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) following WS, while female in EH mice higher epinephrine levels were detected. Female mice exhibited higher AL than males with DH, which was potentiated post-WS exposure. Thus, DH increased susceptibility to extreme air pollution in a gender-dependent manner suggesting that living conditions need to be evaluated as a modifier of toxicological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Fiamingo
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Aleah Bailey
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Sydnie Toler
- Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kaleb Lee
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
| | - Wendy Oshiro
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Brendan Yoo
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Todd Krantz
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Paul Evansky
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - David Davies
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - M. Ian Gilmour
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Aimen Farraj
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Mehdi S. Hazari
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
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Buford M, Lacher S, Slattery M, Levings DC, Postma B, Holian A, Migliaccio C. A mouse model of wildfire smoke-induced health effects: sex differences in acute and sustained effects of inhalation exposures. Inhal Toxicol 2024; 36:367-377. [PMID: 38769076 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2024.2354398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Due to climate change, wildfires have increased in intensity and duration. While wildfires threaten lives directly, the smoke has more far-reaching adverse health impacts. During an extreme 2017 wildfire event, residents of Seeley Lake, Montana were exposed to unusually high levels of wood smoke (WS) causing sustained effects on lung function (decreased FEV1/FVC). Objective: The present study utilized an animal model of WS exposure to research cellular and molecular mechanisms of the resulting health effects. Methods: Mice were exposed to inhaled WS utilizing locally harvested wood to recapitulate community exposures. WS was generated at a rate resulting in a 5 mg/m3 PM2.5 exposure for five days. Results: This exposure resulted in a similar 0.28 mg/m2 particle deposition (lung surface area) in mice that was calculated for human exposure. As with the community observations, there was a significant effect on lung function, increased resistance, and decreased compliance, that was more pronounced in males at an extended (2 months) timepoint and males were more affected than females: ex vivo assays illustrated changes to alveolar macrophage functions (increased TNFα secretion and decreased efferocytosis). Female mice had significantly elevated IL-33 levels in lungs, however, pretreatment of male mice with IL-33 resulted in an abrogation of the observed WS effects, suggesting a dose-dependent role of IL-33. Additionally, there were greater immunotoxic effects in male mice. Discussion: These findings replicated the outcomes in humans and suggest that IL-33 is involved in a mechanism of the adverse effects of WS exposures that inform on potential sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Buford
- University of MT, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Sarah Lacher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of MN Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Matthew Slattery
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of MN Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Daniel C Levings
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of MN Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Britten Postma
- University of MT, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Andrij Holian
- University of MT, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Chris Migliaccio
- University of MT, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Missoula, MT, USA
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Harmon ME, Fiamingo M, Toler S, Lee K, Kim Y, Martin B, Gilmour I, Farraj AK, Hazari MS. The effect of enriched versus depleted housing on eucalyptus smoke-induced cardiovascular dysfunction in mice. Inhal Toxicol 2024; 36:355-366. [PMID: 38776456 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2024.2352748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Objectives: Living conditions play a major role in health and well-being, particularly for the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Depleted housing contributes to impairment and development of disease, but how it impacts body resiliency during exposure to environmental stressors is unknown. This study examined the effect of depleted (DH) versus enriched housing (EH) on cardiopulmonary function and subsequent responses to wildfire smoke. Materials and Methods: Two cohorts of healthy female mice, one of them surgically implanted with radiotelemeters for the measurement of electrocardiogram, body temperature (Tco) and activity, were housed in either DH or EH for 7 weeks. Telemetered mice were exposed for 1 h to filtered air (FA) and then flaming eucalyptus wildfire smoke (WS) while untelemetered mice, which were used for ventilatory assessment and tissue collection, were exposed to either FA or WS. Animals were continuously monitored for 5-7 days after exposure. Results: EH prevented a decrease in Tco after radiotelemetry surgery. EH mice also had significantly higher activity levels and lower heart rate during and after FA and WS. Moreover, EH caused a decreased number of cardiac arrhythmias during WS. WS caused ventilatory depression in DH mice but not EH mice. Housing enrichment also upregulated the expression of cardioprotective genes in the heart. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that housing conditions impact overall health and cardiopulmonary function. More importantly, depleted housing appears to worsen the response to air pollution. Thus, non-chemical factors should be considered when assessing the susceptibility of populations, especially when it comes to extreme environmental events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly E Harmon
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of NC - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michelle Fiamingo
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of NC - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sydnie Toler
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kaleb Lee
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Yongho Kim
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, NC, USA
| | - Brandi Martin
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Ian Gilmour
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, NC, USA
| | - Aimen K Farraj
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, NC, USA
| | - Mehdi S Hazari
- Public Health Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, NC, USA
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Matz J, Gonzalez MP, Niedbalski P, Kim H, Chen Y, Sebastiani P, Gollner MJ, Bellini C, Oakes JM. Assessment of Left Lung Remodeling With Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Murine Model Following Exposure to Douglas Fir Smoke. J Biomech Eng 2024; 146:071010. [PMID: 38581378 PMCID: PMC11080952 DOI: 10.1115/1.4065272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Wildland firefighters (WLFFs) experience lung function decline due to occupational exposure to fire smoke. WLFFs typically do not wear respiratory personal protective equipment, and if they do, it is a simple bandana, which is not effective at filtering smoke. To pinpoint the biological underpinnings of abnormal respiratory function following 3-7 years of WLFF service, we exposed mice to Douglas fir smoke (DFS) over 8 weeks. Following exposure, we assessed changes in lung structure through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and histological analysis, which was supported by immunohistochemistry staining. With MRI, we found that the signal decay time, T2*, from ultrashort echo time (UTE) images was significantly shorter in mice exposed to DFS compared to air controls. In addition, the variation in T2* was more heterogeneously distributed throughout the left lung in DFS-exposed mice, compared to air controls. As confirmed by histological analysis, shorter T2* was caused by larger parenchyma airspace sizes and not fibrotic remodeling. Destruction of the alveolar spaces was likely due to inflammation, as measured by an influx of CD68+ macrophages and destruction due to enhanced neutrophil elastase. In addition, measurements of airspace dimensions from histology were more heterogeneously distributed throughout the lung, corroborating the enhanced relative dispersion of T2*. Findings from this study suggest that the decline in lung function observed in WLFFs may be due to emphysema-like changes in the lung, which can be quantified with MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Matz
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Northeastern University
| | | | - Peter Niedbalski
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Kansas University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02115
- University of Kansas
| | - Hannah Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Northeastern University
| | - Ye Chen
- Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02115
- Tufts Medical Center
| | - Paola Sebastiani
- Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (ICRHPS), Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02115
- Tufts Medical Center
| | - Michael J. Gollner
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720
- University of California, Berkeley
| | - Chiara Bellini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jessica M. Oakes
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
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Cochran SJ, Dunigan-Russell K, Hutton GM, Nguyen H, Schladweiler MC, Jones DP, Williams WC, Fisher AA, Gilmour MI, Dye JA, Smith MR, Miller CN, Gowdy KM. Repeated exposure to eucalyptus wood smoke alters pulmonary gene and metabolic profiles in male Long-Evans rats. Toxicol Sci 2024; 199:332-348. [PMID: 38544285 PMCID: PMC11131017 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with both acute and chronic cardiopulmonary illnesses, which are of special concern for wildland firefighters who experience repeated exposure to wood smoke. It is necessary to better understand the underlying pathophysiology by which wood smoke exposure increases pulmonary disease burdens in this population. We hypothesize that wood smoke exposure produces pulmonary dysfunction, lung inflammation, and gene expression profiles associated with future pulmonary complications. Male Long-Evans rats were intermittently exposed to smoldering eucalyptus wood smoke at 2 concentrations, low (11.0 ± 1.89 mg/m3) and high (23.7 ± 0.077 mg/m3), over a 2-week period. Whole-body plethysmography was measured intermittently throughout. Lung tissue and lavage fluid were collected 24 h after the final exposure for transcriptomics and metabolomics. Increasing smoke exposure upregulated neutrophils and select cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In total, 3446 genes were differentially expressed in the lungs of rats in the high smoke exposure and only 1 gene in the low smoke exposure (Cd151). Genes altered in the high smoke group reflected changes to the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 stress and oxidative stress responses, which mirrored metabolomics analyses. xMWAS-integrated analysis revealed that smoke exposure significantly altered pathways associated with oxidative stress, lung morphogenesis, and tumor proliferation pathways. These results indicate that intermittent, 2-week exposure to eucalyptus wood smoke leads to transcriptomic and metabolic changes in the lung that may predict future lung disease development. Collectively, these findings provide insight into cellular signaling pathways that may contribute to the chronic pulmonary conditions observed in wildland firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Cochran
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Katelyn Dunigan-Russell
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Grace M Hutton
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Helen Nguyen
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Mette C Schladweiler
- Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Dean P Jones
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Wanda C Williams
- Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Anna A Fisher
- Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Janice A Dye
- Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - M Ryan Smith
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Decatur, Georgia 30033, USA
| | - Colette N Miller
- Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Kymberly M Gowdy
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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Abstract
Wildfire smoke (WFS) is a mixture of respirable particulate matter, environmental gases, and other hazardous pollutants that originate from the unplanned burning of arid vegetation during wildfires. The increasing size and frequency of recent wildfires has escalated public and occupational health concerns regarding WFS inhalation, by either individuals living nearby and downstream an active fire or wildland firefighters and other workers that face unavoidable exposure because of their profession. In this review, we first synthesize current evidence from environmental, controlled, and interventional human exposure studies, to highlight positive associations between WFS inhalation and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Motivated by these findings, we discuss preventative measures and suggest interventions to mitigate the cardiovascular impact of wildfires. We then review animal and cell exposure studies to call attention on the pathophysiological processes that support the deterioration of cardiovascular tissues and organs in response to WFS inhalation. Acknowledging the challenges of integrating evidence across independent sources, we contextualize laboratory-scale exposure approaches according to the biological processes that they model and offer suggestions for ensuring relevance to the human condition. Noting that wildfires are significant contributors to ambient air pollution, we compare the biological responses triggered by WFS to those of other harmful pollutants. We also review evidence for how WFS inhalation may trigger mechanisms that have been proposed as mediators of adverse cardiovascular effects upon exposure to air pollution. We finally conclude by highlighting research areas that demand further consideration. Overall, we aspire for this work to serve as a catalyst for regulatory initiatives to mitigate the adverse cardiovascular effects of WFS inhalation in the community and alleviate the occupational risk in wildland firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jessica M. Oakes
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chiara Bellini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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8
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Fiamingo M, Toler S, Lee K, Oshiro W, Krantz T, Evansky P, Davies D, Gilmour MI, Farraj A, Hazari MS. Depleted housing elicits cardiopulmonary dysfunction after a single flaming eucalyptus wildfire smoke exposure in a sex-specific manner in ApoE knockout mice. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4237383. [PMID: 38659910 PMCID: PMC11042425 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4237383/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Although it is well established that wildfire smoke exposure can increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the combined effects of non-chemical stressors and wildfire smoke remains understudied. Housing is a non-chemical stressor that is a major determinant of cardiovascular health, however, disparities in neighborhood and social status have exacerbated the cardiovascular health gaps within the United States. Further, pre-existing cardiovascular morbidities, such as atherosclerosis, can worsen the response to wildfire smoke exposures. This represents a potentially hazardous interaction between inadequate housing and stress, cardiovascular morbidities, and worsened responses to wildfire smoke exposures. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of enriched (EH) versus depleted (DH) housing on pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to a single flaming eucalyptus wildfire smoke (WS) exposure in male and female apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice, which develop an atherosclerosis-like phenotype. The results of this study show that cardiopulmonary responses to WS exposure occur in a sex-specific manner. EH blunts adverse WS-induced ventilatory responses, specifically an increase in tidal volume (TV), expiratory time (Te), and relaxation time (RT) after a WS exposure, but only in females. EH also blunted a WS-induced increase in isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and the myocardial performance index (MPI) 1-wk after exposures, also only in females. Our results suggest that housing alters the cardiovascular response to a single WS exposure, and that DH might cause increased susceptibility to environmental exposures that manifest in altered ventilation patterns and diastolic dysfunction in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kaleb Lee
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
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9
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He F, Yu X, Zhang J, Cui J, Tang L, Zou S, Pu J, Ran P. Biomass-related PM 2.5 induced inflammatory microenvironment via IL-17F/IL-17RC axis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123048. [PMID: 38036089 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Biomass exposure is a significant environmental risk factor for COPD, but the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Inflammatory microenvironment has been shown to drive the development of many chronic diseases. Pollution exposure can cause increased levels of inflammatory factors in the lungs, leading to an inflammatory microenvironment which is prevalent in COPD. Our findings revealed that IL-17F was elevated in COPD, while exposure to biomass led to increased expression of IL-17F in both alveolar epithelial and macrophage cells in mice. Blocking IL-17F could alleviate the lung inflammation induced by seven days of biomass exposure in mice. We employed a transwell co-culture system to simulate the microenvironment and investigate the interactions between MLE-12 and MH-S cells. We demonstrated that anti-IL-17F antibody attenuated the inflammatory responses induced by BRPM2.5 in MLE-12 and MH-S co-cultured with BRPM2.5-MLE-12, which reduced inflammatory changes in microenvironment. We found that IL-17RC, an important receptor for IL-17F, played a key role in the interactions. Knockout of IL-17RC in MH-S resulted in inhibited IL-17F signaling and attenuated inflammatory response after MH-S co-culture with BRPM2.5-MLE-12. Our investigation suggests that BRPM2.5 induces lung epithelial-macrophage interactions via IL-17F/IL-17RC axis regulating the inflammatory response. These results may provide a novel strategy for effective prevention and treatment of biomass-related COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Jiahuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Jieda Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China; Guangzhou National Laboratory, No.9 XingDaoHuanBei Road, Guangzhou International BioIsland, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Lei Tang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Siqi Zou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Jinding Pu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Pixin Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China; Guangzhou National Laboratory, No.9 XingDaoHuanBei Road, Guangzhou International BioIsland, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China.
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10
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Noah TL, Worden CP, Rebuli ME, Jaspers I. The Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Asthma and Allergy. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2023; 23:375-387. [PMID: 37171670 PMCID: PMC10176314 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-023-01090-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the recent literature on the effects of wildfire smoke (WFS) exposure on asthma and allergic disease, and on potential mechanisms of disease. RECENT FINDINGS Spatiotemporal modeling and increased ground-level monitoring data are allowing a more detailed picture of the health effects of WFS exposure to emerge, especially with regard to asthma. There is also epidemiologic and some experimental evidence to suggest that WFS exposure increases allergic predisposition and upper airway or sinonasal disease, though much of the literature in this area is focused more generally on PM2.5 and is not specific for WFS. Experimental evidence for mechanisms includes disruption of epithelial integrity with downstream effects on inflammatory or immune pathways, but experimental models to date have not consistently reflected human disease in this area. Exposure to WFS has an acute detrimental effect on asthma. Potential mechanisms are suggested by in vitro and animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Noah
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
| | - Cameron P Worden
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Meghan E Rebuli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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11
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Vance SA, Kim YH, George IJ, Dye JA, Williams WC, Schladweiler MJ, Gilmour MI, Jaspers I, Gavett SH. Contributions of particulate and gas phases of simulated burn pit smoke exposures to impairment of respiratory function. Inhal Toxicol 2023; 35:129-138. [PMID: 36692431 PMCID: PMC10392891 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2023.2169416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Inhalation of smoke from the burning of waste materials on military bases is associated with increased incidences of cardiopulmonary diseases. This study examined the respiratory and inflammatory effects of acute inhalation exposures in mice to smoke generated by military burn pit-related materials including plywood (PW), cardboard (CB), mixed plastics (PL), and a mixture of these three materials (MX) under smoldering (0.84 MCE) and flaming (0.97 MCE) burn conditions. METHODS Mice were exposed nose-only for one hour on two consecutive days to whole or filtered smoke or clean air alone. Smoldering combustion emissions had greater concentrations of PM (∼40 mg/m3) and VOCs (∼5-12 ppmv) than flaming emissions (∼4 mg/m3 and ∼1-2 ppmv, respectively); filtered emissions had equivalent levels of VOCs with negligible PM. Breathing parameters were assessed during exposure by head-out plethysmography. RESULTS All four smoldering burn pit emission types reduced breathing frequency (F) and minute volumes (MV) compared with baseline exposures to clean air, and HEPA filtration significantly reduced the effects of all smoldering materials except CB. Flaming emissions had significantly less suppression of F and MV compared with smoldering conditions. No acute effects on lung inflammatory cells, cytokines, lung injury markers, or hematology parameters were noted in smoke-exposed mice compared with air controls, likely due to reduced respiration and upper respiratory scrubbing to reduce the total deposited PM dose in this short-term exposure. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that material and combustion type influences respiratory responses to burn pit combustion emissions. Furthermore, PM filtration provides significant protective effects only for certain material types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A. Vance
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Ingrid J. George
- Air Methods and Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Janice A. Dye
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Wanda C. Williams
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Mette J. Schladweiler
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - M. Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Stephen H. Gavett
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
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12
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Lei B, Wang C, Snow K, Graton ME, Tighe RM, Fager AM, Hoffman MR, Giangrande PH, Miller FJ. Inhalation of an RNA aptamer that selectively binds extracellular histones protects from acute lung injury. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 31:662-673. [PMID: 36910716 PMCID: PMC9999168 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a syndrome of acute inflammation, barrier disruption, and hypoxemic respiratory failure associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diverse conditions lead to ALI, including inhalation of toxic substances, aspiration of gastric contents, infection, and trauma. A shared mechanism of acute lung injury is cellular toxicity from damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), including extracellular histones. We recently described the selection and efficacy of a histone-binding RNA aptamer (HBA7). The current study aimed to identify the effects of extracellular histones in the lung and determine if HBA7 protected mice from ALI. Histone proteins decreased metabolic activity, induced apoptosis, promoted proinflammatory cytokine production, and caused endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation in vitro. HBA7 prevented these effects. The oropharyngeal aspiration of histone proteins increased neutrophil and albumin levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and precipitated neutrophil infiltration, interstitial edema, and barrier disruption in alveoli in mice. Similarly, inhaling wood smoke particulate matter, as a clinically relevant model, increased lung inflammation and alveolar permeability. Treatment by HBA7 alleviated lung injury in both models of ALI. These findings demonstrate the pulmonary delivery of HBA7 as a nucleic acid-based therapeutic for ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beilei Lei
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Chaojian Wang
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kamie Snow
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Murilo E Graton
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,São Paulo State University, School of Dentistry, Campus of Aracatuba, São Paulo 16015-050, Brazil
| | - Robert M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Ammon M Fager
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Maureane R Hoffman
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | | | - Francis J Miller
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.,Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37240, USA
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13
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Eden MJ, Matz J, Garg P, Gonzalez MP, McElderry K, Wang S, Gollner MJ, Oakes JM, Bellini C. Prolonged smoldering Douglas fir smoke inhalation augments respiratory resistances, stiffens the aorta, and curbs ejection fraction in hypercholesterolemic mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160609. [PMID: 36470384 PMCID: PMC10699119 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
While mounting evidence suggests that wildland fire smoke (WFS) inhalation may increase the burden of cardiopulmonary disease, the occupational risk of repeated exposure during wildland firefighting remains unknown. To address this concern, we evaluated the cardiopulmonary function in mice following a cumulative exposure to lab-scale WFS equivalent to a mid-length wildland firefighter (WLFF) career. Dosimetry analysis indicated that 80 exposure hours at a particulate concentration of 22 mg/m3 yield in mice the same cumulative deposited mass per unit of lung surface area as 3600 h of wildland firefighting. To satisfy this condition, male Apoe-/- mice were whole-body exposed to either air or smoldering Douglas fir smoke (DFS) for 2 h/day, 5 days/week, over 8 consecutive weeks. Particulate size in DFS fell within the respirable range for both mice and humans, with a count median diameter of 110 ± 20 nm. Expiratory breath hold in mice exposed to DFS significantly reduced their minute volume (DFS: 27 ± 4; Air: 122 ± 8 mL/min). By the end of the exposure time frame, mice in the DFS group exhibited a thicker (DFS: 109 ± 3; Air: 98 ± 3 μm) and less distensible (DFS: 23 ± 1; Air: 28 ± 1 MPa-1) aorta with reduced diastolic blood augmentation capacity (DFS: 53 ± 2; Air: 63 ± 2 kPa). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging further revealed larger end-systolic volume (DFS: 14.6 ± 1.1; Air: 9.9 ± 0.9 μL) and reduced ejection-fraction (DFS: 64.7 ± 1.0; Air: 75.3 ± 0.9 %) in mice exposed to DFS. Consistent with increased airway epithelium thickness (DFS: 10.4 ± 0.8; Air: 7.6 ± 0.3 μm), airway Newtonian resistance was larger following DFS exposure (DFS: 0.23 ± 0.03; Air: 0.20 ± 0.03 cmH2O-s/mL). Furthermore, parenchyma mean linear intercept (DFS: 36.3 ± 0.8; Air: 33.3 ± 0.8 μm) and tissue thickness (DFS: 10.1 ± 0.5; Air: 7.4 ± 0.7 μm) were larger in DFS mice. Collectively, mice exposed to DFS manifested early signs of cardiopulmonary dysfunction aligned with self-reported events in mid-career WLFFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Eden
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, MA, USA
| | - Jacqueline Matz
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, MA, USA
| | - Priya Garg
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Siyan Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Gollner
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jessica M Oakes
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, MA, USA
| | - Chiara Bellini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, MA, USA.
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14
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Boaggio K, LeDuc SD, Rice B, Duffney P, Foley KM, Holder A, McDow S, Weaver CP. Beyond Particulate Matter Mass: Heightened Levels of Lead and Other Pollutants Associated with Destructive Fire Events in California. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:14272-14283. [PMID: 36191257 PMCID: PMC10111611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As the climate warms, wildfire activity is increasing, posing a risk to human health. Studies have reported on particulate matter (PM) in wildfire smoke, yet the chemicals associated with PM have received considerably less attention. Here, we analyzed 13 years (2006-2018) of PM2.5 chemical composition data from monitors in California on smoke-impacted days. Select chemicals (e.g., aluminum and sulfate) were statistically elevated on smoke-impacted days in over half of the years studied. Other chemicals, mostly trace metals harmful to human health (e.g., copper and lead), were elevated during particular fires only. For instance, in 2018, lead was more than 40 times higher on smoke days on average at the Point Reyes monitoring station, due mostly to the Camp Fire, burning approximately 200 km away. There was an association between these metals and the combustion of anthropogenic material (e.g., the burning of houses and vehicles). Although still currently rare, these infrastructure fires are likely becoming more common and can mobilize trace metals in smoke far downwind, at levels generally unseen except in the most polluted areas of the country. We hope a better understanding of the chemicals in wildfire smoke will assist in the communication and reduction of public health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Boaggio
- ORISE Participant at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Stephen D. LeDuc
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Byron Rice
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Parker Duffney
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Kristen M. Foley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Amara Holder
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Stephen McDow
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
| | - Christopher P. Weaver
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
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15
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Martin WK, Padilla S, Kim YH, Hunter DL, Hays MD, DeMarini DM, Hazari MS, Gilmour MI, Farraj AK. Zebrafish irritant responses to wildland fire-related biomass smoke are influenced by fuel type, combustion phase, and byproduct chemistry. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2021; 84:674-688. [PMID: 34006202 PMCID: PMC8237130 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2021.1925608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to wildfire-derived particulate matter (PM) is linked to adverse health outcomes; however, little is known regarding the influence of biomass fuel type and burn conditions on toxicity. The aim of this study was to assess the irritant potential of extractable organic material (EOM) of biomass smoke condensates from five fuels (eucalyptus, pine, pine needle, peat, or red oak), representing various fire-prone regions of the USA, burned at two temperatures each [flaming (approximately 640°C) or (smoldering approximately 500°C)] using a locomotor assay in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. It was postulated that locomotor responses, as measures of irritant effects, might be dependent upon fuel type and burn conditions and that these differences relate to combustion byproduct chemistry. To test this, locomotor activity was tracked for 60 min in 6-day-old zebrafish larvae (25-32/group) immediately after exposure to 0.4% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) vehicle or EOM from the biomass smoke condensates (0.3-30 µg EOM/ml; half-log intervals). All EOM samples produced concentration-dependent irritant responses. Linear regression analysis to derive rank-order potency indicated that on a µg PM basis, flaming pine and eucalyptus were the most irritating. In contrast, on an emission-factor basis, which normalizes responses to the amount of PM produced/kg of fuel burned, smoldering smoke condensates induced greater irritant responses (>100-fold) than flaming smoke condensates, with smoldering pine being the most potent. Importantly, irritant responses significantly correlated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content, but not with organic carbon or methoxyphenols. Data indicate that fuel type and burn condition influence the quantity and chemical composition of PM as well as toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Kyle Martin
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill, USA
| | - S Padilla
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Us Epa, Rtp, NC, US
| | - Y H Kim
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, US
| | - D L Hunter
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Us Epa, Rtp, NC, US
| | - M D Hays
- Air Methods & Characterization Division, Us Epa, Rtp, NC, US
| | - D M DeMarini
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Us Epa, Rtp, NC, US
| | - M S Hazari
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Us Epa, Rtp, NC, US
| | - M I Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Us Epa, Rtp, NC, US
| | - A K Farraj
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Us Epa, Rtp, NC, US
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16
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Vose A, McCravy M, Birukova A, Yang Z, Hollingsworth JW, Que LG, Tighe RM. Wood smoke particle exposure in mice reduces the severity of influenza infection. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 426:115645. [PMID: 34271066 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Elevated ambient temperatures and extreme weather events have increased the incidence of wildfires world-wide resulting in increased wood smoke particle (WSP). Epidemiologic data suggests that WSP exposure associates with exacerbations of respiratory diseases, and with increased respiratory viral infections. To assess the impact of WSP exposure on host response to viral pneumonia, we performed WSP exposures in rodents followed by infection with mouse adapted influenza (HINI-PR8). C57BL/6 male mice aged 6-8 weeks were challenged with WSP or PBS by oropharyngeal aspiration in acute (single dose) or sub-acute exposures (day 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10). Additional groups underwent sub-acute exposure followed by infection by influenza or heat-inactivated (HI) virus. Following exposures/infection, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess for total cell counts/differentials, total protein, protein carbonyls and hyaluronan. Lung tissue was assessed for viral counts by real time PCR. When compared to PBS, acute WSP exposure associated with an increase in airspace macrophages. Alternatively, sub-acute exposure resulted in a dose dependent increase in airspace neutrophils. Sub-acute WSP exposure followed by influenza infection was associated with improved respiratory viral outcomes including reduced weight loss and increased blood oxygen saturation, and decreased protein carbonyls and viral titers. Flow cytometry demonstrated dynamic changes in pulmonary macrophage and T cell subsets based on challenge with WSP and influenza. This data suggests that sub-acute WSP exposure can improve host response to acute influenza infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Vose
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Matthew McCravy
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Zhonghui Yang
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - John W Hollingsworth
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Medicine, Texas Christian University School of Medicine, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Loretta G Que
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Robert M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.
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17
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Respiratory Impacts of Wildland Fire Smoke: Future Challenges and Policy Opportunities. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021; 18:921-930. [PMID: 33938390 PMCID: PMC8456726 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.202102-148st] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildland fires are diminishing air quality on a seasonal and regional basis, raising concerns about respiratory health risks to the public and occupational groups. This American Thoracic Society (ATS) workshop was convened in 2019 to meet the growing health threat of wildland fire smoke. The workshop brought together a multidisciplinary group of 19 experts, including wildland fire managers, public health officials, epidemiologists, toxicologists, and pediatric and adult pulmonologists. The workshop examined the following four major topics: 1) the science of wildland fire incidence and fire management, 2) the respiratory and cardiovascular health effects of wildland fire smoke exposure, 3) communication strategies to address these health risks, and 4) actions to address wildland fire health impacts. Through formal presentations followed by group discussion, workshop participants identified top priorities for fire management, research, communication, and public policy to address health risks of wildland fires. The workshop concluded that short-term exposure to wildland smoke causes acute respiratory health effects, especially among those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Research is needed to understand long-term health effects of repeated smoke exposures across fire seasons for children, adults, and highly exposed occupational groups (especially firefighters). Other research priorities include fire data collection and modeling, toxicology of different fire fuel sources, and the efficacy of health protective measures to prevent respiratory effects of smoke exposure. The workshop committee recommends a unified federal response to the growing problem of wildland fires, including investment in fire behavior and smoke air quality modeling, research on the health impacts of smoke, and development of robust clinical and public health communication tools.
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18
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Johanson G. Are asthmatics more sensitive to irritants? Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 226:113488. [PMID: 32088597 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is a heterogeneous inflammatory disease characterized by increased airway hyper-responsiveness to external stimuli such as irritants. One may speculate that asthmatics are more sensitive to irritants in the air than healthy subjects, i.e. react at lower concentrations. We reviewed the scientific support for this speculation and investigated to what extent asthma is considered when setting exposure limits and guidance values. We found that the experimental studies comparing healthy and asthmatic subjects are often inconclusive. Still, the available studies are underused, by expert committees and industry alike. Data for a few irritants suggest that asthmatics are up to three-fold more sensitive than the healthy. The most abundant data were found for sulfur dioxide. Here, a benchmark concentration analysis suggests a nine-fold difference in sensitivity. Based on these data a default assessment factor of 10 is suggested when setting exposure limits and guidance values for irritants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Johanson
- Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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