Inflammatory effects of cook stove emissions on cultured human bronchial epithelial cells
Date
2010
Authors
Hawley, Brie, author
Volckens, John, advisor
Willson, Bryan, committee member
Reynolds, Stephen J., committee member
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Abstract
Approximately half the world's population uses biomass as a fuel for cooking and heating. This form of combustion is typically achieved by burning wood in a primitive indoor cook stove. Human exposure to combustion byproducts emitted from these 'traditional' stoves is an important global health concern. Such exposures cause an estimated two million premature deaths each year and have been associated with increased incidence of pulmonary disease, eyesight degradation, cancer, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Many types of 'improved cook stoves' have been developed over the past few decades to address this concern. The aim of this research was to compare the effects of traditional and improved cook stove emissions on normal human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to a single biomass combustion event. We used a direct, aerosolto-cell deposition system to expose cell cultures to cook stove emissions. We then quantified the relative expression of three different mRNA transcripts associated with a cellular inflammation at 1 and 24 hours following exposure. We hypothesized that cultured human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to wood smoke from an improved cook stove would produce lower levels of inflammatory transcripts as compared to cells exposed to emissions from a traditional stove. Wood smoke was generated from three stove types: an energy efficient model designed and distributed by Envirofit International, an energy efficient model designed and distributed by Philips Inc., and a traditional three stone fire. The emissions from each cook stove were substantially different, with the three stone fire having the highest emissions of particle number, particle size, and particle mass. Cellular expression of inflammatory genes was also significantly higher in exposed vs. control cells, with the three stone fire having the greatest effect. These results provide preliminary evidence that improved cook stoves have the potential to improve human health.
Description
Department Head: Jac A. Nickoloff.
Rights Access
Subject
Biomass stoves
Epithelial cells
Bronchi
Smoke -- Physiological effect