Effects of Mixtures of Toluene and Benzene at Indoor Concentrations on Human Lung Epithelial Cells Exposed under Airlifted Conditions

Hundreds of chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in the indoor environment and are suspected to cause acute and chronic adverse health effects. At present, there is a lack of substantial information on toxicological effects caused by VOC mixtures at low concentrations; therefore, new experimental approaches should be designed to detect biological effects at typical indoor air concentrations. The aim of this work was the evaluation of biological effects of low concentrations of two VOCs, benzene and toluene which are representing key contaminants in indoor non-occupational environments, as individual compounds and in mixtures on cell cultures. Human epithelial lung cells (A549) (the lung being a VOC target organ) were exposed under airlifted conditions to low concentrations of air pollutants by means of a specific exposure device (CULTEX) that was properly adapted for the application of VOCs at low concentration levels. We demonstrated that single or binary exposures with the two selected volatile compounds having a similar chemical structure (benzene and toluene) are able to initiate different biological effects in terms of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and DNA damage. This work will be the basis for further studies on the biological effects of exposure to more complex indoor air mixtures.

SACCO Maria-Grazia;  PARISELLI Fabrizio;  REMBGES Diana; 

2009-01-26

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

JRC45364

0378-4274,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC45364,   

10.1016/j.toxlet.2008.06.458,