Pollution and subcellular accumulation of metals – the connection to non-communicable diseases

Research Project, 2023 – 2024

Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) is a major global health concern and it has been estimated that 5 million people die of PM-associated diseases per year worldwide. Airborne particulate matter as well as airborne microplastics penetrate deep into the human body as has recently been reported in mainstream media.

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 contribute almost equally to total traffic related emissions and are not at all regulated. Emissions from agriculture/households contribute to more than 75% of the total particulate emission. Airborne particulate matter as well as airborne nano- and microplastics 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, Pb, and Cd 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. By interdisciplinary collaboration the particles will be sampled from urban environment and linked to the various sources from transportation. The objective is to establish the link between urban air pollution and metal uptake in the respiratory system. The end goal is to provide knowledge to stakeholders (that control the policy instruments for air pollution) and also to enable health protection for urban citizens in general and specifically vulnerable people (elderly and children)