Ambient Endotoxin and Chemical Pollutant (PM10, PM2.5, and O3) Levels in South Korea

Sung Ho Hwang,Dong Uk Park

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2018.06.0235

Sung Ho Hwang, Dong Uk Park

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2018.06.0235

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Abstract

ABSTRACT We measured the levels of airborne endotoxins in South Korea and compared them to PM10, PM2.5, and O3 levels in ambient environments; environmental factors affecting these levels were also analyzed. A total of 81 air samples were collected and analyzed using the kinetic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay. The geometric mean was determined for the levels of endotoxin (0.132 EU m–3), PM10 (51.9 µg m–3), PM2.5 (22.6 µg m–3), and O3 (0.018 ppm). The endotoxin levels were significantly higher in fall and winter than in summer. The levels of PM10 and PM2.5 were significantly higher, and the level of O3 was by far its highest, in spring. Negative correlations were found between the endotoxin and O3 levels (r = –0.491) and between the endotoxin levels and temperature (r = –0.302). The PM10 levels were also negatively associated with the O3 levels and temperature but positively associated with the PM2.5 levels. Given the negative relationship between airborne endotoxins and O3 determined here, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to identify the responsible mechanisms.

Highlights

A variety of air pollutants are legally required to be monitored in South Korea, including particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 and 2.5 μm (PM10 and PM2.5, respectively), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ozone (Ministry of Environment of Korea, 2017)
The endotoxin levels were significantly higher in fall and winter than in summer
Endotoxin levels were highest in October and lowest in April, PM10 and PM2.5 levels were highest in March and lowest in September, and O3 levels were highest in June and lowest in January (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

A variety of air pollutants are legally required to be monitored in South Korea, including particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 and 2.5 μm (PM10 and PM2.5, respectively), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ozone (Ministry of Environment of Korea, 2017). Due to a legal oversight, biological agents such as airborne endotoxins are not monitored in outdoor environments. Endotoxins such as lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) are ubiquitous in the environment and are an important structural component of the outer membranes of gramnegative bacteria (Beutler and Rietschel, 2003). Exposure to endotoxins has been found to cause and exacerbate asthma and wheezing in both children and adults (AbbingKarahagopian et al, 2012) and has been linked to lung function impairment (Liebers et al, 2008) and the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases (Loh et al, 2006). A recent study found that endotoxin exposure can dramatically alter the body’s white blood cell count, leading to disorders in immune function (Shang et al, 2016).

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