Article

Passage of Inhaled Particles Into the Blood Circulation in Humans

Abderrahim NemmarFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKPeter HoetFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKB. VanquickenborneFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKDavid DinsdaleFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKMichiel ThomeerFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKMarc HoylaertsFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKH VanbilloenFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKL. MortelmansFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UKBenoît NemeryFrom the Laboratory of Pneumology (Lung Toxicology) (A.N., P.H.M.H., M.T., B.N.), Nuclear Medicine (B.V., H.V., L.M.), and Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (M.F.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and the MRC Toxicology Unit (D.D.), Leicester, UK

2002en

ABI

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pollution by particulates has been consistently associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the mechanisms responsible for these effects are not well-elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS: To assess to what extent and how rapidly inhaled pollutant particles pass into the systemic circulation, we measured, in 5 healthy volunteers, the distribution of radioactivity after the inhalation of "Technegas," an aerosol consisting mainly of ultrafine (99m)Technetium-labeled carbon particles (<100 nm). Radioactivity was detected in blood already at 1 minute, reached a maximum between 10 and 20 minutes, and remained at this level up to 60 minutes. Thin layer chromatography of blood showed that in addition to a species corresponding to oxidized (99m)Tc, ie, pertechnetate, there was also a species corresponding to particle-bound (99m)Tc. Gamma camera images showed substantial radioactivity over the liver and other areas of the body. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that inhaled (99m)Tc-labeled ultrafine carbon particles pass rapidly into the systemic circulation, and this process could account for the well-established, but poorly understood, extrapulmonary effects of air pollution.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1161/hc0402.104118

Citations and references

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