TY - JOUR
T1 - Personal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) and respiratory inflammation of common residents in Hong Kong
AU - Fan, Zhanlan
AU - Pun, Vivian C.
AU - Chen, Xiao Cui
AU - Hong, Qiu
AU - Tian, Linwei
AU - Ho, Steven Sai Hang
AU - Lee, Shuncheng
AU - Tse, Lap Ah
AU - Ho, Kin Fai
PY - 2018/7/1
Y1 - 2018/7/1
N2 - Background: Given the lack of research on the personal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) in Hong Kong, we examined the association between short-term personal exposure to PM2.5and their constituents and inflammation in exhaled breath in a sample of healthy adult residents. Method: Forty-six participants underwent personal PM2.5monitoring for averagely 6 days to obtain 276 samples. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a biomarker of inflammation in exhaled breath, was measured at the end of each 24-h personal monitoring. PM2.5chemical constituents, including organic carbon, elemental carbon, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 6 phthalate esters, were speciated from the personal samples collected. A mixed-effects model was used to estimate the association of PM2.5and their constituents with FeNO. The comparison was also made with parallel analyses using ambient concentrations. Results: Personal exposures to PM2.5(28.1 ± 23.3 μg/m3) were higher than the ambient levels (13.3 ± 6.4 μg/m3) monitored by stations. The composition profile and personal-to-ambient concentration ratio varied among subjects with different occupations. An interquartile range (IQR) change in personal exposure to PM2.5was positively associated with 12.8% increase in FeNO (95% confidence interval, CI: 5.5–20.7%), while nil association was found for ambient PM2.5. Among the constituents measured, only the carcinogenic PAHs were significantly associated with 12% increase in FeNO responses (95% CI, 0.0–25.6%). Conclusion: In conclusion, our study provides the first understanding about personal exposure to PM2.5and possible sources in Hong Kong. The results also showed that personal exposure to PM2.5and c-PAHs were linked to increased FeNO levels among healthy adults.
AB - Background: Given the lack of research on the personal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) in Hong Kong, we examined the association between short-term personal exposure to PM2.5and their constituents and inflammation in exhaled breath in a sample of healthy adult residents. Method: Forty-six participants underwent personal PM2.5monitoring for averagely 6 days to obtain 276 samples. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a biomarker of inflammation in exhaled breath, was measured at the end of each 24-h personal monitoring. PM2.5chemical constituents, including organic carbon, elemental carbon, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 6 phthalate esters, were speciated from the personal samples collected. A mixed-effects model was used to estimate the association of PM2.5and their constituents with FeNO. The comparison was also made with parallel analyses using ambient concentrations. Results: Personal exposures to PM2.5(28.1 ± 23.3 μg/m3) were higher than the ambient levels (13.3 ± 6.4 μg/m3) monitored by stations. The composition profile and personal-to-ambient concentration ratio varied among subjects with different occupations. An interquartile range (IQR) change in personal exposure to PM2.5was positively associated with 12.8% increase in FeNO (95% confidence interval, CI: 5.5–20.7%), while nil association was found for ambient PM2.5. Among the constituents measured, only the carcinogenic PAHs were significantly associated with 12% increase in FeNO responses (95% CI, 0.0–25.6%). Conclusion: In conclusion, our study provides the first understanding about personal exposure to PM2.5and possible sources in Hong Kong. The results also showed that personal exposure to PM2.5and c-PAHs were linked to increased FeNO levels among healthy adults.
KW - Carbonaceous materials
KW - Fine particles
KW - Personal exposure
KW - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
KW - Respiratory inflammation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042138472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2018.02.009
DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2018.02.009
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 164
SP - 24
EP - 31
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
ER -