Visualizing and quantifying human internal black carbon load

Abstract

TPS 651: Air pollution exposure modeling 1, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background: Despite increased understanding of the health consequences associated with combustion-related air pollution, including black carbon (BC), the most critical obstacle hampering progress in the field of exposure and risk assessment is our limited ability to adequately monitor personalized exposure to those environmental pollutants. Recently, we developed an optical-based method for the label-free and biocompatible detection of BC particulates. The aim of this study was to exploit the applicability of our established detection approach in relevant biological environments such as human liquid biopsies and tissues. Methods: Our recently established method, which is based on the bright, white-light detection of BC particles under femtosecond pulsed illumination with near-infrared light, was employed. The potential of this method was demonstrated in various biological matrices to show its ability to monitor personalized exposure. Results: Our novel approach allows readily visualization and quantitative determination of BC particles in complex biological environments such as human lung macrophages, urine and whole peripheral blood. We demonstrated that these particles are omnipresent in the different biological matrices and that its concentration is related to the level of external environmental air pollution. Moreover, using children’s urine (n=289), it was shown that urinary carbon loading can serve as a personalized exposure matrix to combustion-based air pollution while mirroring the accumulation of medium-term to chronic (> 1 month) exposure. Conclusion: Identifying BC particles in various human matrices proof BC translocation at relatively low concentrations under real life-conditions and open new avenues as a personalized internal exposure marker. The results clearly showed that our technique has numerous advantages, as it is a straightforward, fast and flexible approach without the need for sample pretreatment. Also, the screening tool discriminates background signals from biological components, and allows 3D imaging and high imaging depths, making it also possible to screen at the cellular and tissue level.