Development of a novel technology for in-vitro assessment of exposure to fine and ultrafine particulate matter

空气污染对加拿大人的健康有重大影响，仅在安大略省，每年造成的损失估计为80亿美元。颗粒物被认为是导致这种疾病的主要空气污染物之一。然而，对于微粒物质的哪些化学或物理特性造成了这些不利的健康影响，实际上知之甚少。据信，在吸入颗粒物后，我们的身体会在细胞水平上做出反应，触发一系列生物过程，从而导致我们所经历的影响，从呼吸不适到致命的心脏病发作。此外，来自某些来源的颗粒物可能比其他来源的毒性大得多。因此，在预计颗粒物毒性更大或浓度更高的地方研究颗粒物组成与细胞反应之间的关系，将为我们的健康与环境之间提供一个关键的联系。这个合作健康研究项目的总体目标是开发一种可运输的系统，用于将肺细胞暴露在不同位置的颗粒物中。在与电池接触之前，该系统将颗粒物质按大小分成两部分。第一个部分被称为“细”部分，将包含直径小于2.5毫米的颗粒（PM2.5），而第二个部分被称为超细部分，将包含直径小于2.5毫米的颗粒。这种基于大小的区别是非常重要的，因为这些部分在环境和我们的身体中都有很大的不同。我们将使用这个系统来探索细胞在暴露于不同浓度的颗粒物时的生物反应，并评估颗粒物被认为更危险的不同地点。该项目将汇集一个来自医学、工程和科学的多学科团队，以及来自不同级别政府的合作者。从这个项目中产生的理解将有助于制定更有效的空气质量和排放法规，从而在不不必要地限制经济增长的情况下保护公众。

Air pollution has a major impact on the health of Canadians that, in Ontario alone, costs an estimated at $8 billion dollars annually. Particulate matter has been implicated as one of the major air pollutants causing this illness. However, very little is actually known about which chemical or physical characteristics of the particulate matter are causing these adverse health impacts. It is believed that following inhalation of particulate matter, our body responds at a cellular level triggering a cascade of biological processes that lead to the impact that we experience, impacts that range from discomfort in breathing to fatal heart attacks. In addition, particulate matter from some sources is likely much more toxic than that from others. Hence studying the relationship between particulate matter composition and cellular response, at locations where the particulate matter is expected to be more toxic or concentrated, will provide a key link between our health and our environment. The overall goal of this collaborative health research project is to develop a transportable system for exposing lung cells to particulate matter at different locations of interest. The system will separate the particulate matter by size into two fractions prior to contact with the cells. The first fraction, called the "fine" fraction, will contain the particles smaller than 2.5 mm in diameter (PM2.5) whereas the second fraction, called the ultrafine fraction, will contain particles that are over 100 times smaller. This sized based distinction is very important, as these fractions are quite different both in the environment and in our bodies. We will use it this system to explore the biological response of cells when exposed to different concentrations of particulate matter and to assess different locations in which the particulate matter is believed to be more hazardous. The project will bring together a multidisciplinary team from medicine, engineering and science, along with collaborators from different levels of government. The understanding arising from this project will support the development of more effective air quality and emission regulations so as to protect the public without unnecessarily constraining economic growth.