Cooking Oil Fumes Research Articles

The effect of PhIP precursors on the generation of particulate matter in cooking oil fumes at high cooking temperatures and the inflammation response in human lung cells

Cooking Oil Fumes (COFs) contain carcinogenic organic substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs), of which 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine (PhIP) is known as mainly meat-borne carcinogens. In this work, to identify the mechanisms to induce the inflammation response in human lung cells (A549) exposed to COFs, we investigated the physicochemical and biological characteristics of COFs generated with PhIP precursors (L-phenylalanine, creatinine, and glucose) at high cooking temperatures (300 °C and 600 °C). Interestingly, we found that PhIP was not formed both at 300 °C and 600 °C, while a large number of carbon nanoparticles were generated from soybean oil containing the PhIP precursors at 600 °C. From the biological analysis, COFs generated with the PhIP precursors at 600 °C induced the most significant pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6). This result indicates that the particulate matter in COFs generated with the PhIP precursors above the smoke temperature is the primary factor directly affecting the lung inflammatory response rather than PhIP. This study demonstrates for the first time a novel principle of the inflammatory response that the PhIP precursors can aggravate lung injury by affecting the physical properties of COFs depending on cooking temperature. Therefore, our finding is a significant result of overcoming the bias in previous studies focusing only on the chemical toxicity of PhIP in the inflammatory response of COFs.

Reduction of non-methane hydrocarbons in cooking oil fumes via adsorption on MFI: Effect of zeolitic framework composition

The growth of public awareness of hazard from gaseous pollutants emitted by cooking activities spawned the implement of new laws & regulations as well as new technologies for cooking oil fumes emission control. Considering the emission characteristics of large air volume and intermittence of cooking fumes, in this work, TS-1 was firstly applied as an efficient adsorbent for enriching the low-concentrated complex humid volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cooking oil fumes. In order to illustrate the superiority of Ti-O-Si framework as a cooking VOCs adsorbent, zeolites with the same MFI topology to TS-1 but different framework compositions of Si-O-Al (ZSM-5) and Si-O-Si (silicalite-1, hereinafter referred as S-1) were also investigated for comparison. Related characterizations were performed to reveal the difference among three zeolites. It was found that textural properties, surface silanol density and defect content significantly affect the adsorption site accessibility, water resistance as well as organophilicity of zeolites adsorbents, all of which play a decisive role in the adsorption process of cooking oil fumes. Both TS-1 and S-1 present much stronger water resistance than commercial ZSM-5 due to lacking hydrophilic Si-OH-Al groups (S-1 > TS-1 > ZSM-5), while TS-1 shows better organophilic property than both S-1 and ZSM-5 (in an order of TS-1 > ZSM-5 > S-1) due to the physical and electrical interaction between Ti-contained framework and organic molecular. These characteristics jointly make the zeolite with Ti-O-Si framework be a good adsorbent candidate for VOCs elimination from cooking fumes.

Removal of fine particulate matter from cooking-oil fume using an intensified mobile chemical scrubber based on a rotating packed bed with green surfactants

Cooking-oil fumes (COFs) from street-food stalls in night markets have adverse effects on air quality and workers. This study proposes a floor-mounted, cylindrical, movable, small-sized rotating packed bed (RPB) coupled with green surfactants in a Span and Tween mixture as an intensified chemical scrubber for COF purification. Moreover, it is used for an on-site performance evaluation of PM2.5 removal efficiency (ηPM2.5) in a fried-food stall. With a hydrophilic–lipophilic balance of 6 (H6) from the Span and Tween mixture, an optimal dose of 8.2 g/L is achieved for an ηPM2.5 of 88.8 %. Except for direct interception and inertial impaction, the RPB with H6 stimulates the emulsification of COFs, which is a dominant mechanism for the range of PM1–2.5. By comparing the effects of scrubbing solutions of water, traditional detergent, and H6, it is found that H6 exhibits the highest emulsification effect for ηPM2.5 with low scent and manageable foaming level. A 7-day performance evaluation for commercial operation suggests that a promising ηPM2.5 can be reached by maintaining the concentration of H6 in the scrubbing solution. Therefore, the effectiveness of the RPB with the bio-based H6 surfactant is clearly demonstrated by the removal of PM2.5 in commercial fried-food stalls. The findings shed light on the development and application of RPB with bio-based and eco-friendly surfactants for wet scrubbing of COFs in terms of particulate-matter removal in commercial fried-food stalls.

Maternal exposure to cooking oil fumes during pregnancy and autistic‐like behaviors in Chinese preschoolers

There is growing evidence that cooking oil fumes (COFs) are harmful indoor air pollutants. However, there is a dearth of research investigating whether maternal COFs exposure during pregnancy may affect children's autistic-like behaviors in China. This study aimed to explore this association, and examine the effects of different cooking fuels and ventilation methods used by mothers on the presence of autistic-like behaviors. This study analyzed the survey data of the Longhua Child Cohort Study in 2017 with a total of 62,372 mothers enrolled in this study. A self-administrative questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, cooking habits during pregnancy, and autistic-like behaviors (measured using the Autism Behavior Checklist). After adjusting for potential confounders, the results showed that compared with children whose mothers never cooked during pregnancy, children whose mothers cooked sometimes, often, always during pregnancy had the higher risk of autistic-like behaviors. As the amounts of COFs exposed to and the frequency of cooking during pregnancy increased, the risk of a child's autistic-like behaviors also increased. Mothers using natural gas as cooking fuels had a lower risk of their child having autistic-like behaviors, compared with mothers using coal or other cooking fuels. Furthermore, pregnant women using ventilation measures during cooking significantly decreased likelihood of the presence of autistic-like behaviors in their children. These results suggest that maternal exposure to COFs during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of the presence of autistic-like behaviors in offspring. These findings support a recommendation that pregnant women should avoid exposure to COFs and use clean fuels and ventilation equipment in kitchens to reduce the risk of autistic-like behaviors in children.

Study on emission characteristics of tracer pollutants in cooking oil fumes

In this study, the following 5 kinds of tracer pollutants of cooking oil fumes were selected: palmitic acid, stearic acid, cholesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol, and an effective method of their extraction, separation, enrichment and determination was established considering the conditions of the low-altitude exhaust and the condensation of cooking fumes. Five tracer pollutants were determined both in the PM2.5 and gas phases from college canteen exhaust and in waste oil condensed from fumes of different edible oils in households. It was found that the amount of palmitic acid was higher than that of stearic acid in the same sample; the emission characteristics of 5 substances in condensed grease samples from different oils varied considerably; compared with palmitic acid and stearic acid, 3 sterols (cholesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol) are more characteristic as tracers of cooking oil fumes. The results provide technical and methodological references for the contribution and traceability analysis of catering source exhaust in air pollution source apportionment.

Assessing the cooking oil fume exposure impacts on Chinesewomen health: an influential mechanism analysis.

Oil fume is always considered as a major source of indoor air pollution. This article aims toexamine the effects of cooking oil fume as environmental pollution on the health of Chinese women by using the data obtained from China Labor force Dynamic Survey (CLDS). In order to estimate the effect of environmental pollution on the human health, we utilize probit model approach and baseline regressionmethod. The results showed that oil fume has a significant negative impact on the health indicators of "physical pain, health impact on work and injury." By conducting endogeneity analysis, our results show therobustness and indicate that oil fume has a robust effect on thewomen health. Heterogeneity analysis show that heavier oil fume has a negative impact on the subjective health of middle-aged and young women, while it has asignificant negative impact on the objective health of middle-aged women. Analysis of the impact mechanism reveal that heavier oil fumes will reduce women's sleep quality and will leadto thepoorer health. Based on our study findings, this study proposes policy recommendations from the perspectives of the use of smoke extraction equipment, cooking methods, and sleep quality to reduce the negative impact of cooking fumes on women's health.

A novel nanotubular TiO2-based Plug-Flow reactor for gas phase photocatalytic degradation of toluene

In this study, a novel annular plug flow reactor (PFR) with built-in nanotubular TiO2 obtained via anodizing was tested for the photocatalytic degradation of toluene. The oxide was grown directly on a titanium substrate by anodizing, as this method implies no risk of nanoparticles release in the environment during or after the photocatalytic process. Experiments were carried out in presence of an UV-A light source by modulating relative humidity, gas concentration and flow rate, to evaluate possible applications in indoor and industrial environments.The photocatalytic system demonstrated high photodegradation efficiency up to 90% for an inlet toluene concentration of 10 ppm, thus showing potential applications in mildly polluted environments, such as homes, offices and up to more severely polluted ones like offset printing plants, automobile manufacturing industries or even professional kitchens, where the exposure to cooking oil fumes is significant. In case of high toluene concentration, the initial degradation percentage falls in a range between 60 and 70%; subsequently, the instant degradation shows a gradual decrease ascribed to photocatalyst deactivation, which occurred due to the accumulation of recalcitrant by-products on the adsorption sites, thus highlighting some limitations for industrial applications when selected VOCs are present; nonetheless, the photocatalyst regained its initial activity through a simple photocatalyst reactivation process, leading to a maximum instant degradation percentage up to 90% for an inlet toluene concentration of 20 ppm.

The toxicity of cooking oil fumes on human bronchial epithelial cells through ROS-mediated MAPK, NF-κB signaling pathways and NLRP3 inflammasome.

Cooking oil fumes (COFs) are the main pollutants in kitchen and indoor air, which threaten human health. Exposure to COFs may lead to respiratory diseases and impair pulmonary function. To investigate the toxicity of COFs on human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas-2B) and explore the underlying mechanisms, MTT assay was conducted to detect the viability of Beas-2B. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and nitric oxide (NO) levels were determined with DCFH-DA assay and DAF-FM assay. The expression of genes involved in inflammation were measured with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The phosphorylation and the expression of proteins related to Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), NF-κB signaling pathways were measured with western blot. Our results revealed that COFs decreased cell viability, increased the ROS levels and NO levels and induced apoptosis in Beas-2B cells. The results of qRT-PCR and western blot showed that the expression of NLRP3, p65, iNOS, IL-1β, and the factors related to oxidative stress and inflammation increased, NF-κB signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway were activated. This study provided some useful information to evaluate the toxicity of COFs and revealed the possible mechanism for the damage on respiratory system induced by COFs.

A high environmental composite quality factor score was associated with the risk of sick building syndrome among adults in northeast China

ObjectivesEpidemiological evidence regarding the association between the combination of indoor and outdoor neighborhood pollution and sick building syndrome (SBS) among adults is limited and inconsistent. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the association between the environmental composite quality factor score and SBS among adults. MethodsThis study included 2594 females and 666 males aged 18–77 years enrolled from the Northeast China. The environmental composite quality factor score was computed based on factors potentially associated with SBS risk, including the outdoor neighborhood pollution sources (the housing on the street, the presence of pollutants within 100 m of the house (gutters, garbage stations, noise, chemical pollution, and dust pollution), and the presence of arterial roads, factories, and chimneys) and indoor pollution sources (redecoration, clean fuel used for heating/cooking, cooking oil fume (COF) outside kitchen, using of mosquito coil or repellent, and using of incense). We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) between environmental composite quality factor score, indoor pollution composite factor score, outdoor neighborhood pollution composite factor score, and SBS adjustment for covariates. Further, we also did the stratified analysis and constructed a weighted score to verify the results. ResultsCompared with the lowest environmental composite quality factor score, the ORs of the highest scores were: 1.58 (95% CI, 1.20–2.27, Ptrend = 0.001) for general symptoms; 1.73 (95% CI, 1.35–2.23, Ptrend < 0.001) for mucosal symptoms and 1.75 (95% CI, 1.34–2.29, Ptrend < 0.001) for dermal symptoms and 1.81 (95% CI, 1.36–2.42, Ptrend < 0.001) for all of the three symptoms. We also observed similar patterns with the using of weighted scores and stratified analysis. ConclusionHigher exposure to indoor pollution sources and outdoor pollution sources near the residence may be associated with a higher risk of SBS in adults in northeast China.

Reduction of Nmhc in Cooking Oil Fumes Via Adsorption on Mfi: Effect of Zeolitic Framework Composition

Reduction of Nmhc in Cooking Oil Fumes Via Adsorption on Mfi: Effect of Zeolitic Framework Composition

Vitamin D3 protects intrauterine growth restriction induced by cooking oil fume derived fine particulate matters

BackgroundCooking oil fume (COF) is an important source of indoor air pollution which severely affects human health, and sufficient vitamin D3 (VitD3) is necessary for maternal and child health. However, the effects of cooking oil fume-derived PM2.5 (COF-PM2.5) on birth outcomes and whether VitD3 could protect from adverse effects caused by COFs-PM2.5 are still unclear. MethodsTwenty-four pregnant rats were divided into 4 groups and treated with various treatments: normal feeding, COFs-PM2.5 intratracheal instillation, VitD3 intragastric administration, and COFs-PM2.5 and VitD3 co-treatment, respectively. The fetal rats were obtained in pregnant 21 days and the development of them was recorded. Morphological changes in umbilical cord were measured with HE staining, and the oxidative stress and inflammatory levels were also investigated. Western blotting and RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of angiogenesis related factors. ResultsWe successfully established an intrauterine growth restriction model in rats induced by COFs-PM2.5 where fetus weight significantly decreased after COFs-PM2.5 exposure. As for the umbilical cord vasculature, the wall thickened and the lumen narrowed down, and the contractility of the umbilical cord vasculature enhanced after COFs-PM2.5 exposure. COFs-PM2.5 exposure also increased the oxidative stress and inflammation level and activated the HIF-1α/eNOS/NO and VEGF/VEGFR2/eNOS signaling pathway. Interestingly, VitD3 intervention significantly increased the fetus weight and attenuated the injury of umbilical cord vascular, and partly or completely reversed the changes in the ROS/eNOS/ET-1 axis caused by COF-PM2.5. ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggested that COF-PM2.5 exposure could contribute to intrauterine growth restriction through disturbing the ROS/eNOS/ET-1 axis, while VitD3 supplementation could be an effective prophylactic measurement.

Dining Lampblack Treatment Processes in China

The PM2.5 and other small particles produced by cooking oil fumes have contributed up to 25% to the urban atmospheric PM2.5, which has a bad impact on air quality and seriously threatens human health. Aiming at the pollution problem caused by catering oil fume, this article analyzes the threats of air pollution to human health based on the compositions and characteristics of catering oil fume, illustrates the development trend of China′s food and beverage lampblack control policy, and summarizes and points out the current situation and development trend of catering oil fume treatment. In order to provide ideas for the design of more efficient and energy-saving treatment processes in the future, the advantages and disadvantages were reviewed, and the improvement direction of the treatment technology was discussed.

AB015. Association between usage of cooking oils and risk of lung cancer among women: a hospital-based case control study in Singapore

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. It is also the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in Singaporean women. While previous studies have shown that cooking-related factors like cooking oil fumes are risk factors for lung cancer, they failed to take into consideration that cooking oils differ in properties like cooking fumes’ mutagenicity, which have a direct impact on associated risk levels. Given that cooking is a universal activity, there is a need to examine the associations between different cooking oils and lung cancer risk, and the corresponding risk levels imposed on vulnerable populations like housewives due to their daily usage of these cooking oils.

Cytogenetic Consequences of Food Industry Workers Occupationally Exposed to Cooking Oil Fumes (COFs).

Background:Cooking oil fumes (COFs) with smoking habits is a substantial risk that aggravates genetic modifications. The current study was to estimate the biological markers of genetic toxicity counting Micronucleus changes (MN), Chromosome Aberrations (CA) and DNA modifications among COFs exposures and control subjects inherent from South India. Materials and Methods:Present analysis comprised 212 COFs with tobacco users and equivalent number of control subjects. Results:High frequency of CA (Chromatid type: and chromosome type) were identified in group II experimental subjects also high amount of MN and DNA damage frequency were significantly (p < 0.05) in both subjects (experimental smokers and non-smokers). Present analysis was observed absence of consciousness among the COFs exposures about the destructive level of health effects of tobacco habits in working environment. Conclusion:COFs exposed workers with tobacco induce the significant alteration in chromosomal level. Furthermore, a high level of rate of genetic diseases (spontaneous abortion) were identified in the experimental subjects. This finding will be helpful for preventive measures of COFs exposed workers and supportive for further molecular analysis.

Risk of Liver Cirrhosis in HBV/HCV-Infected Individuals with First-Degree Relatives Who Have Liver Cancer: Development and Validation of a Simple Model.

Identification of high-risk population among hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals with first-degree relatives (FDR) who have liver cancer is important to implement precise intervention. A cross-sectional study was conducted under the framework of a population-based Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC), aimed to develop and validate a simple noninvasive model that could assess and stratify cirrhosis risk, in HBV/HCV-infected individuals with FDRs who have liver cancer. People who participated in liver cancer screening in Henan province were enrolled. Using the data set consisting of participants admitted from October 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016, a 24-point scale risk score model was developed through logistic regression, based on educational background, dietary habit, smoking index, cooking oil fume exposure, history of severe trauma, HBV/HCV infection status, history of diabetes, history of hyperlipidemia, and parent history of liver cancer. The model showed excellent discrimination with area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.875 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.853-0.896] and fair calibration with a Hosmer-Lemeshow test P = 0.106. The prevalence rates in the medium- and high-risk groups were 2.87 (95% CI, 1.94-4.25) and 47.57 (95% CI, 31.59-71.63) times of low-risk group, respectively. After internal validation, bias-corrected AUROC was 0.874 (95% CI, 0.873-0.875). In the external validation data set consisting of participants admitted from January 1, 2017, to October 31, 2018, the model had achieved similar discrimination, calibration, and risk stratification ability. In conclusion, the risk score model we developed can be a practical tool for the screening and prevention of liver cirrhosis among HBV/HCV-infected individuals with FDRs who have liver cancer. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: We created a simple and noninvasive cirrhosis risk model for individuals infected by HBV/HCV who have FDRs with liver cancer. This model is useful not only for the prognosis of HBV/HCV infection, but also for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Association of Particulate Matter from Cooking Oil Fumes with Heart Rate Variability and Oxidative Stress.

Many studies have reported various cardiovascular autonomic responses to ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution, but few have reported such responses to occupational PM exposures. Even fewer have demonstrated a relationship between PM pollution and oxidative stress in humans. This panel study evaluates the association between occupational exposure to PM in cooking oil fumes (COFs), and changes in both heart rate variability (HRV) and oxidative stress responses in 54 male Chinese cooks. Linear mixed-effects regression models were adopted to estimate the strength of the association between PM and HRV. Participants’ pre- and post-workshift urine samples were analyzed for 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Exposure to PM in COFs from 15 min to 2 h were associated with a decrease in HRV and an increase in heart rate among cooks. The urinary 8-OHdG levels of cooks were significantly elevated after workshift exposure to COFs. The levels of PM2.5, PM1.0, and particulate benzo(a)pyrene in COFs were all positively correlated with cross-workshift urinary 8-OHdG levels. Furthermore, the levels of benzo(a)pyrene in COFs were positively correlated with cross-workshift urinary MDA levels. The effects of COFs on HRV were independent of cross-workshift urinary 8-OHdG levels. Exposure to COFs leads to disturbed autonomic function and an increased risk of oxidative DNA injury among cooks in Chinese restaurants.

Meta-analysis of associations between cooking oil fumes exposure and lung cancer risk

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and cooking oil fumes (COF) are considered as the potential dangerous contributing factors. This study, a meta-analysis was conducted to analyse the correlation between exposure to COF and risk of lung cancer. Literature from 1980 to 2020 were searched and 29 studies were selected for analysis. Results showed that population exposed to COF had significant differences in lung cancer prevalence (P &lt; 0.05). The odds ratio (OR) values of different periods (before 2000, 2000–2010 and 2010–2020) were significantly different. Using ventilation equipment had the OR of 0.54. Liao cuisine, Fujian cuisine, Shanghai cuisine, Jingdong cuisine and Shaanxi cuisine had the ORs (95% confidence interval) of 1.91 (1.62, 2.25), 2.38 (1.80, 3.16), 1.56 (1.29, 1.89), 2.58 (1.63, 4.09) and 1.57 (1.16, 2.11), respectively. These results revealed that exposure to COF could increase the risk of lung cancer, but the risk was gradually reduced with the changes of the times and the use of ventilation equipment. Different cooking methods in different regions caused different risks of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer caused by COF mainly produced by deep-frying, quick-frying, stir-frying and pan-frying is higher than in other methods.

Parametric analysis of a rotating disk for cooking oil fume particle removal

A rotating disk with spokes was developed recently for its benefits in preventing grease accumulation. Parametric design of disk structure based on the particle capture efficiency and flow resistance has not been widely studied. This work performed experiments and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to analyze factors influencing the performance of this rotating disk. The experimental and simulation results of the pressure drop and particle capture efficiency were compared to validate the feasibility of CFD simulations and identify the best turbulence model among the three tested. Orthogonal tests performed for parametric analysis showed that spoke width, number of spokes, disk diameter, rotating speed, and air flow rate significantly affect the resistance of the rotating disk, whereas spoke width, spoke thickness, number of spokes, rotating speed, and air flow rate significantly affect particle capture efficiency. Structure improvement of the rotating disk was conducted to balance the particle capture efficiency and flow resistance. Finally, structure-improved disks manufactured by corrosion were evaluated in an experimental system with an artificial cooking oil fume (COF) particle generating apparatus. Experimental results show that the total particle removal efficiency of COF particles can reach up to 62.5% for a rotating disk with optimized structure under rotating speed 1500 rpm and penetrating airflow rate 360 m³/h, while the measured pressure drop is as low as 15.3 Pa. This study can contribute to the efficient design of rotating disk used for purification of COF in residential kitchen or oil-coated particles in industrial environment.

Placental weight mediates association between prenatal exposure to cooking oil fumes and preterm birth

Background: There are some reports on association between maternal prenatal cooking oil fume (COF) exposure and preterm birth (PTB), but its mechanism remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to assess whether placental weight mediates their associations. Method: We enrolled 619 pregnant women delivering PTB newborns as cases and 1701 delivering full-term appropriate for gestational age newborns as controls. They were inquired with a self-reported questionnaire about prenatal COF exposure, socio-demographics and obstetric characteristics at Women and Children’s Hospitals of Shenzhen and Foshan. After controlling for the potential confounders, a series of logistic and linear regressions were conducted to assess associations among COF exposure, placental weight and PTB, and the mediation of placental weight in the association between COF exposure and PTB. Results: Maternal prenatal COF exposure was significantly associated with PTB and the frequency of prenatal COF exposure was negatively associated with placental weight. Compared with mother who never cooked, those cooking occasionally, sometimes or often increased the risk of PTB, and similarly, those cooking between half to an hour was also showed a higher risk of PTB. Typical Chinese cooking methods including stir-frying, pan-frying and deep-frying were also associated with PTB. Different oil types mainly used, including peanut oil, corn oil and animal oil were associated with PTB as well. Mediation analysis illustrated that placental weight partially mediated 13.60% (95% CI = 10.62–33.20%) of the effects on the association between the frequency of maternal prenatal COF exposure and PTB. Conclusion: Maternal cooking during pregnancy and the frequency of prenatal COF exposure might increase the risk of PTB, in which placenta might play mediation role.

Toxic effect of cooking oil fume (COF) on lungs: Evidence of endoplasmic reticulum stress in rat

BackgroundCooking oil fumes (COF) is one of the primary sources of indoor air pollution in China, which is associated with respiratory diseases such as acute lung injury and lung cancer. However, evidence of COF toxic effect was few. ObjectivesThe research was aimed to investigate the toxic effect and the underlying mechanisms induced by COF. MethodsThe female Wistar rats were randomly divided into several groups, including control group, COF exposure group and VE protection group, and instilled intratracheally with different COF suspensions (0.2, 2, 20 mg/kg) or saline once every 3 days for 30 days. After 24 h of final exposure, all rat were anesthetic euthanasia to draw materials. The alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was for inflammatory cell count. The lung homogenate was to determine the biochemical indexes such as oxidative stress, apoptosis factors, carcinogenic toxicity and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The left lung was made for immunohistochemical and histopathological analysis. ResultsThe results showed that the levels of oxidative stress (ROS), apoptosis factors (NF-κB), carcinogenic toxicity (P53 and 8-OhdG), ER stress (IRE-1α and Caspase-12) in 2 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg COF exposure groups were significantly increased compared with the saline groups. The above pathological changes were improved after vitamin E (VE) supplementation. In addition, the immunohistochemical and histopathological analysis found the same trend. ConclusionThe COF had health risk of heredity and potential carcinogenicity. Besides, COFs can not only induce oxidative stress, but also induce ER stress in lung and airway epithelial cells of female rats through the unfolded protein reaction (UPR) pathway. It revealed that the oxidative stress and ER stress interacted in aggravating lung injury. VE could effectively alleviate the lung injury causing by COF exposure.