Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a relationship between elevated levels of inhaled pollutants and respiratory morbidity. However, insufficient information is available to determine rational environmental standards for gaseous and particulate air pollutants. We have constructed a controlled environmental chamber that can accurately deliver known concentrations of these pollutants.

       Studies are underway to evaluate the effects of ambient pollutants including oxidants and particulate matter, volatile organic compounds such as toluene, and common chemicals such as siloxanes on the airways of normal and susceptible human populations. Alterations in lung function are detected by measuring pulmonary changes that occur before symptoms appear. Deposition of vapors and particles can be determined by comparing inspired and expired concentrations. Pharmacokinetics of inhaled materials in the respiratory tract, blood and urine during rest and exercise are determined; metabolites can be measured in urine. From these data, models to describe the mass transfer of vapors from the lung air to blood are developed.

       In normal and asthmatic subjects, mechanisms of injury will be studied with noninvasive methods following pollutant exposures; assessment techniques under investigation include nitric oxide production in exhaled air and changes in inflammatory cell populations in induced sputum. A quantitative multiplex competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chair reaction method recently developed in our laboratory will be evaluated to measure gene expression in cells obtained by induced sputum. Pollutant-induced changes in cytokine production by circulating leukocytes will be assessed by flow cytometry techniques. Data obtained from these studies should permit a better assessment of adverse health effects from inhalation of common inhaled pollutants as well as improved understanding of their pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of toxicity.

Shah AP, Pietropaoli AP, Frasier LM, Speers DM, Chalupa DC, Delehanty JM, Huang LS, Utell MJ, Frampton MW. Effect of inhaled carbon ultrafine particles on reactive hyperemia in healthy human subjects. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Mar;116(3):375-380.

Reddy MB, Looney RJ, Utell MJ, Plotzke KP, Andersen ME. Modeling of human dermal absorption of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D(4)) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D(5)). Toxicol Sci. 2007 Oct;99(2):422-431. Epub 2007 Jul 14.

Samet JM, Geyh AS, Utell MJ. The legacy of World Trade Center dust. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 31;356(22):2233-2236. No abstract available.

Pietropaoli AP, Perillo IB, Perkins PT, Frasier LM, Speers DM, Frampton MW, Utell MJ, Hyde RW. Smokers have reduced nitric oxide production by conducting airways but normal levels in the alveoli. Inhal Toxicol. 2007 May;19(6-7):533-541.

Stewart JC, Hyde RW, Boscia J, Chow MY, O'Mara RE, Perillo I, Pietropaoli A, Smith CJ, Torres A, Utell MJ, Frampton MW. Changes in markers of epithelial permeability and inflammation in chronic smokers switching to a nonburning tobacco device (Eclipse). Nicotine Tob Res. 2006 Dec;8(6):773-783.

Elder A, Couderc JP, Gelein R, Eberly S, Cox C, Xia X, Zareba W, Hopke P, Watts W, Kittelson D, Frampton M, Utell M, Oberdšrster G. Effects of on-road highway aerosol exposures on autonomic responses in aged, spontaneously hypertensive rats. Inhal Toxicol. 2007 Jan;19(1):1-12.

Utell MJ, Beckett WS. Implications for occupational exposure to particulate matter. Clin Occup Environ Med. 2006;5(4):883-893. Review.

Jeong CH, Evans GJ, Hopke PK, Chalupa D, Utell MJ. 2006. Influence of atmospheric dispersion and new particle formation events on ambient particle number concentration in Rochester, United States, and Toronto, Canada. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. Apr;56(4):431-443.

Frampton MW, Stewart JC, Oberdorster G, Morrow PE, Chalupa D, Pietropaoli AP, Frasier LM, Speers DM, Cox C, Huang LS, Utell MJ. 2006. Inhalation of ultrafine particles alters blood leukocyte expression of adhesion molecules in humans. Environ Health Perspect. Jan;114(1):51-58.

Maxim LD, Galvin JB, Niebo R, Segrave AM, Kampa OA, Utell MJ. 2006. Occupational exposure to carbon/coke fibers in plants that produce green or calcined petroleum coke and potential health effects: 2. Fiber concentrations. Inhal Toxicol. Jan;18(1):17-32.

Maxim LD, Galvin JB, Niebo R, Segrave AM, Kampa OA, Utell MJ. 2006. Occupational exposure to carbon/coke fibers in plants that produce green or calcined petroleum coke and potential health effects: 1. Fiber characteristics. Inhal Toxicol. Jan;18(1):1-16.

Barron BA, Beckett WS, Utell MJ. 2005. Clinical activities in an academic hospital-based occupational medicine program. J Occup Environ Med. 2005 Jun;47(6):587-593.

Beckett WS, Chalupa DF, Pauly-Brown A, Speers DM, Stewart JC, Frampton MW, Utell MJ, Huang LS, Cox C, Zareba W, Oberdorster G. 2005. Comparing inhaled ultrafine versus fine zinc oxide particles in healthy adults: a human inhalation study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. May 15;171(10):1129-1135

Frampton MW, Utell MJ, Zareba W, Oberdorster G, Cox C, Huang LS, Morrow PE, Lee FE, Chalupa D, Frasier LM, Speers DM, Stewart J. 2004. Effects of exposure to ultrafine carbon particles in healthy subjects and subjects with asthma. Res Rep Health Eff Inst. Dec;(126):1-47; discussion 49-63.

Pietropaoli AP, Frampton MW, Hyde RW, Morrow PE, Oberdorster G, Cox C, Speers DM, Frasier LM, Chalupa DC, Huang LS, and Utell MJ. 2004. Pulmonary function, diffusing capacity, and inflammation in healthy and asthmatic subjects exposed to ultrafine particles. Inhal Toxicol. 16 Suppl 1:59-72.

Chalupa DC, Morrow PE, Oberdorster G, Utell MJ, and Frampton MW. 2004. Ultrafine particle deposition in subjects with asthma. Environ Health Perspect. Jun;112(8):879-882.