Respiratory Epithelial Penetration and Clearance of Particle-Borne Benzo(a)pyrene

摘要

Exposure to diesel exhaust is a suspected risk factor for human lung cancer. Thecarbonaceous core of the soot particles found in diesel exhaust and the condensed organic compounds adsorbed (or bound) onto the surface of the particles are both possible contributors to this supected risk. The extent and rate at which organic procarcinogens desorb from soot particles in the lungs after environmental and workplace exposures and the degree of metabolic activation in the lungs are also not known. We explored the relationship between a model polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a typical carrier particle by measuring the rate of release, extent of release, and metabolic gate of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) bound onto the carbonaceous core of diesel soot after bolus aerosol exposures of the dog's peripheral lung and trachea.