Beyond PM2.5: The role of ultrafine particles on adverse health effects of air pollution

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1860; no. 12; pp. 2844 - 2855
• Main Authors: Chen, Rui, Hu, Bin, Liu, Ying, Xu, Jianxun, Yang, Guosheng, Xu, Diandou, Chen, Chunying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2016
• Subjects: adverse effects; air; Air pollution; Air Pollution - analysis; Brain Diseases - etiology; Brain Diseases - genetics; Brain Diseases - metabolism; Brain Diseases - pathology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - genetics; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; combustion; engines; exposure pathways; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; human health; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lung Diseases - etiology; Lung Diseases - genetics; Lung Diseases - metabolism; Lung Diseases - pathology; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - genetics; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Nanotoxicology; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Particle Size; Particulate Matter - toxicity; PM0.1; PM2.5; power plants; risk; Signal Transduction; toxicity; Toxicology; Ultrafine particles; CFD; PS; Nanotoxicology; HBE; Toxicology; UFPs; UPR; PM2.5; CMD; PM0.1; PSACs; VOCs; AOP; ADME; PTFE; Ultrafine particles; PNCs; ENPs; ER; DES; MPPD; ARE; EPA; ROS; Air pollution; PAHs; PM; NRC; COPD; UCL; PM(0.1); PM(2.5)
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 0006-3002; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.03.019

Air pollution constitutes the major threat to human health, whereas their adverse impacts and underlying mechanisms of different particular matters are not clearly defined. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are high related to the anthropogenic emission sources, i.e. combustion engines and power plants. Their composition, source, typical characters, oxidative effects, potential exposure routes and health risks were thoroughly reviewed. UFPs play a major role in adverse impacts on human health and require further investigations in future toxicological research of air pollution. Unlike PM2.5, UFPs may have much more impacts on human health considering loads of evidences emerging from particulate matters and nanotoxicology research fields. The knowledge of nanotoxicology contributes to the understanding of toxicity mechanisms of airborne UFPs in air pollution. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Air Pollution, edited by Wenjun Ding, Andrew J. Ghio and Weidong Wu. •High concentration ultrafine particles in urban area constitute realistic health impacts.•Extremely small size and large particle number of UFPs dominate the high toxicity in PM2.5.•Knowledge from nanotoxicology provides insights to understand toxic effects of UFPs.•Airway mucosa constitutes the first barrier to UFPs exposure in respiratory system.