Chemistry, lung toxicity and mutagenicity of burn pit smoke-related particulate matter

Particle and Fibre Toxicology

Michael D. Hays¹  Ingrid J. George¹  Sarah H. Warren²  David M. DeMarini²  Ilona Jaspers³  Yong Ho Kim⁴  Ingeborg Kooter⁵  Samuel A. Vance⁶  Mark A. Higuchi⁷  Wanda C. Williams⁷  Stephen H. Gavett⁷  M. Ian Gilmour⁷ 

[1] Air Methods and Characterization Division, Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27711, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA;Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27711, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA;Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;Department of Pediatrics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27711, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA;Department of Circular Economy and the Environment, The Netherlands Organisation of Applied Sciences, TNO, Utrecht, The Netherlands;Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 27711, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA;Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27711, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA;

关键词: Military burn pit smoke;    Inhalation;    Lung toxicity;    Mutagenicity;    Particulate matter;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12989-021-00435-w

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundOpen burning of anthropogenic sources can release hazardous emissions and has been associated with increased prevalence of cardiopulmonary health outcomes. Exposure to smoke emitted from burn pits in military bases has been linked with respiratory illness among military and civilian personnel returning from war zones. Although the composition of the materials being burned is well studied, the resulting chemistry and potential toxicity of the emissions are not.MethodsSmoke emission condensates from either flaming or smoldering combustion of five different types of burn pit-related waste: cardboard; plywood; plastic; mixture; and mixture/diesel, were obtained from a laboratory-scale furnace coupled to a multistage cryotrap system. The primary emissions and smoke condensates were analyzed for a standardized suite of chemical species, and the condensates were studied for pulmonary toxicity in female CD-1 mice and mutagenic activity in Salmonella (Ames) mutagenicity assay using the frameshift strain TA98 and the base-substitution strain TA100 with and without metabolic activation (S9 from rat liver).ResultsMost of the particles in the smoke emitted from flaming and smoldering combustion were less than 2.5 µm in diameter. Burning of plastic containing wastes (plastic, mixture, or mixture/diesel) emitted larger amounts of particulate matter (PM) compared to other types of waste. On an equal mass basis, the smoke PM from flaming combustion of plastic containing wastes caused more inflammation and lung injury and was more mutagenic than other samples, and the biological responses were associated with elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels.ConclusionsThis study suggests that adverse health effects of burn pit smoke exposure vary depending on waste type and combustion temperature; however, burning plastic at high temperature was the most significant contributor to the toxicity outcomes. These findings will provide a better understanding of the complex chemical and combustion temperature factors that determine toxicity of burn pit smoke and its potential health risks at military bases.

【 授权许可】

CC BY