Health effects of short-term exposure to ultrafine particles around Amsterdam Schiphol airport

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown elevated concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFP) near airports. Little is known about the health effects of UFP, particularly from aviation. We evaluated the health effects of short-term exposure to UFP around Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands. Methods: We conducted three studies, with different designs: 1. Observational study with 191 schoolchildren in residential areas near Schiphol, including weekly lung function and exhaled NO measurements at school (161 children) and daily lung function and symptom recording at home (all 191 children). 2. Controlled exposure study with 21 healthy adults, including 2-5 repeated 5-hour exposures in a mobile laboratory directly next to Schiphol, with pre and post measurements of lung function, exhaled NO, electrocardiography and blood pressure. 3. Toxicological study with human bronchial epithelial cells (Calu-3), using UFP collected directly next to Schiphol as well as UFP collected from a turbine engine, and assessment of cell viability, cytotoxicity and inflammatory potential. Results: In children, we found statistically significant associations between exposure to UFP and an increase in daily respiratory symptoms and bronchodilator use. These associations were observed for UFP from aviation as well as UFP from road traffic, based on particle size distribution. In the adults study, exposure to UFP from aviation was associated with a decline in lung function (FVC) and a prolongation of the QTc interval (ECG). UFP from road traffic was associated with an increase in systolic blood pressure. In Calu-3 cells, exposure to UFP resulted in cell damage and release of pro-inflammatory markers, with no significant differences in reactivity between the different sources of UFP. Conclusions: Together these studies show that short-term increased exposure to UFP, as occurs around Schiphol, is associated with acute health effects. We found no indications that effects of UFP from aviation are substantially different from those of UFP from road traffic.