PT Journal AU Moazami, TN Hilt, B Sørås, K Svendsen, KVH Dahlman, HJ Refsnes, M Låg, M Øvrevik, J Jørgensen, RB TI Short-term exposure to stone minerals used in asphalt affect lung function and promote pulmonary inflammation among healthy adults SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 7VL PY 2022 BP 410 EP 418 IS 5 DI 10.5271/sjweh.4023 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=4023 DE airway inflammation; asphalt; exposure; human exposure chamber; lung function; non-exhaust emission; particulate matter; pulmonary inflammation; quartz diorite; rhomb porphyry; stone mineral; urban air pollution SN 0355-3140 AB '

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OBJECTIVE ': 'Stone minerals are a partially ignored environmental challenge but a significant contributor to urban air pollution. We examined if short-term exposure to two stone minerals – quartz diorite and rhomb porphyry – commonly used in asphalt pavement would affect lung function, promote pulmonary inflammation, and affect bronchial reactivity differently.

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METHODS ': 'Our randomized crossover study included 24 healthy, non-smoking young adults exposed to the stone minerals quartz diorite, rhomb porphyry, and control dust (lactose). Exposure occurred in an exposure chamber, in three separate 4-hour exposure sessions. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and lung function were monitored before exposure, then immediately following exposure, and 4 and 24 hours after exposure. In addition, methacholine was administered 4 hours following exposure, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was collected before exposure, then immediately and 4 hours after exposure. EBC was analyzed for pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, P-Selectin, surfactant protein D (SP-D), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

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RESULTS ': 'Our results showed significantly elevated concentrations of FeNO after exposure to quartz diorite compared to rhomb porphyry, suggesting that quartz diorite is more likely to trigger pulmonary inflammation after short-term exposure. Moreover, short-term exposure to rhomb porphyry was associated with a modest but statistically significant decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) compared to quartz diorite.

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CONCLUSION ': 'These results emphasize that using stone material in asphalt road construction should be reconsidered as it may affect lung inflammation and lung function in exposed subjects.

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