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.

Zareba W; Couderc JP; Oberdšrster G; Chalupa D; Cox C; Huang LS; Peters A; Utell MJ; Frampton MW. ECG parameters and exposure to carbon ultrafine particles in young healthy subjects. Inhalation toxicology. 2009; 21(3):223-233.

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.