Short-term effects particle exposures

Karoly ED, Li Z, Dailey LA et al (2007) Up-iegulation of tissue factor in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells after ultraline particle exposure. Environ Health Perspect 115 535-540 Katsouyanni K, Touloumi G, Samoli E et al (2003) Sensitivity analysis of various models of short-term effects of ambient particles on total mentality in 29 cities in APHEA2. In Revised analyses of time-series of Air Pollution and Health. Special Report, Health Effects Institute, Boston, pp 157-164... 

Katsouyanni K, Touloumi G, Samoli E et al (2001) Confounding and effect modification in the short-term effects of ambient particles on total mortality results from 29 European cities within the APHEA2 project. Epidemiology 12 521-531 Kodavanti UP, Jaskot RH, Costa DL et al (1997) Pulmonary proinflammatory gene induction following acute exposure to residual oil fly ash roles of particle-associated metals. Inhal Toxicol 9 679-701... 

Various health effects have been reported from short-term studies. Increased mortality associated with short-term exposure is the most important health outcome in these studies. A multiplicity of studies from various settings in the US, Canada and Europe attest the association of different metrics of particular matter (PMio, PM2.5, PMio 2.5 or ultrafine particles) with general and cause specific human mortality. In the first line are daily time series studies from single cities (e.g. Schwartz 1991). More relevant are analyses that pool data from several locations, using a common protocol for analysis of the within-city data and then combining estimates from various locations in order to gain precision and to evaluate the heterogeneity of the effect of particulate matter across the cities. 

Maynard D, Coull BA, Gryparis A et al (2007) Mortality risk associated with short-term exposure to traffic particles and sulfates. Environ Health Perspect 115 751-755 McDonald JD, Harrod KS, Seagrave J et al (2004) Effects of low sulfur fuel and a catalyzed particle trap on the composition and toxicity of diesel emissions. Environ Health Perspect 112 1307-1312... 

Excess zinc exposure, if intense enough or of sufficient duration, can have adverse impacts upon health (1). For example, metal fume fever is association with inhalation exposure to grossly excessive amounts of molten zinc vapor and/or ultra-fine zinc oxide particles. Although metal fume fever can be induced by virtually any metal, the relatively low boiling point of zinc has resulted in greater occurrence of metal fume fever with zinc than for most other metals. Fortunately, metal fume fever is a short-term flu-like illness, characterized by fever and flu-like symptoms which last approximately 24-72 hours. No long-term health effects have been associated with metal fume fever. 

Still, other studies reported opposite effects under certain circumstances. Thus, PP-talc composites showed a different behavior depending on the interval of exposure UV-initiated degradation was more intense for short terms, but the trend was reversed after 12 weeks of exposure [85]. This behavior may be assigned to the balance between the screening effect of the talc particles and the catalytic activity of the chromophores present as impurities. 

Evidence has grown over the last decade, that urban airborne particles at ambient concentration levels common in many cities in Europe, America and Asia exert adverse effects on human health. Short- or long-term exposure to particulate matter (measured as PMio or PM2.5) is associated with an increase risk of cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. Collectively the toxicological and epidemiological studies provide sufficient evidence that a causal relationship is likely to exist between exposure to ambient concentrations of PMjo or PM2.5 and specific human morbidity (exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, asthma or coronary heart disease) and premature deaths. 

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