Pollution and subcellular effects – the connection to non-communicable diseases

Research Project, 2025 – 2026

While there has been a huge improvement in reducing vehicle particle emissions standards in Europe over the last few years, particulates remain a big health risk. Non-exhaust sources such as tire and road wear particles (TRWP) contribute almost equally to total traffic related emissions and are not at all regulated. Airborne particulate matter as well as airborne microplastics such as TRWP penetrate deep into the body and was recently identified in human blood. What has previously not been studied is that particles and plastics can transport large amounts of adsorbed metals to our organs. In this project, we seek to find out how metals such as Zn, Fe, and Pb are transported across the vulnerable endothelial barriers, what damage they cause and where the metals end up. We will show this in chemical images, using a novel analytical approach to follow metal ion uptake in epithelial and endothelial cells at the sub-cellular level and determine how particles and microplastics deliver their adsorbed metal cargo. An end goal is to determine if this process can be prevented and if the barrier function can be strengthened. On a consumer level, we aim to spread information on how to personally reduce particle emissions while on the administrative level we want to communicate with decision makers and county administrative boards on the importance of reducing emission and helping consumers do so