Abstract
BackgroundThe burning of biomass in the developing world for heating and cooking results in high indoor particle concentrations. Long-term exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) has been associated with increased rates of acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive lung disease and cancer. In this study we determined the oxidative activity of combustion particles derived from the biomass fuel dung cake by examining their capacity to deplete antioxidants from a model human respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF). For comparison, the observed oxidative activity was compared with that of particles derived from industrial and vehicular sources.ResultsIncubation of the dung cake particle suspensions in the RTLF for 4 h resulted in a mean loss of ascorbate of 72.1 ± 0.7 and 89.7 ± 2.5% at 50 and 100 μg/ml, respectively. Reduced glutathione was depleted by 49.6 ± 4.3 and 63.5 ± 22.4% under the same conditions. The capacity of these samples to deplete ascorbate was in excess of that observed with diesel or gasoline particles, but comparable to that seen with residual oil fly ash and considerably in excess of all three control particles in terms of glutathione depletion. Co-incubation with the metal chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetate inhibited these losses, whilst minimal inhibition was seen with superoxide dismutase and catalase treatment. The majority of the activity observed appeared to be contained within aqueous particle extracts.ConclusionThese data demonstrate that biomass derived particles have considerable oxidative activity, largely attributable to their transition metal content.
Highlights
The burning of biomass in the developing world for heating and cooking results in high indoor particle concentrations
Particle and Fibre Toxicology 2005, 2:6 http://www.particleandfibretoxicology.com/content/2/1/6 those found in homes where it is not used as a heating/ cooking source, with 24 h average PM10 concentrations ranging between 200 and 5000 μg/m3 depending on the fuel type, stove and ventilation [5,6]
Women and children exposed to high indoor particulate matter (PM) concentrations have significantly increased rates of acute respiratory infections (ARI) [5,810], and women cooking over biomass fires for extensive periods have an enhanced risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer [11,12]
Summary
The burning of biomass in the developing world for heating and cooking results in high indoor particle concentrations. Two billion people in the developing world use biomass fuels such as wood, crop-waste and dried animal dung, as their major source of domestic energy [1,2] The burning of this material in open fires and stoves results in high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, as well as volatile and semi-volatile organic species in the indoor environment [3,4]. Women and children exposed to high indoor PM concentrations have significantly increased rates of acute respiratory infections (ARI) [5,810], and women cooking over biomass fires for extensive periods have an enhanced risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer [11,12]. Whilst enhanced particle deposition in the airways is clearly important, the chemical and physical characteristics of airborne particles that contribute to their toxicity have not been firmly established, though particle size and surface area [14], as well as acidity and composition [15,16] have all been mooted as important determinants in this regard
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