TY - JOUR PY - 2012// TI - Cycling to work in London and inhaled dose of black carbon JO - European respiratory journal A1 - Nwokoro, C. A1 - Ewin, C. A1 - Harrison, C. A1 - Ibrahim, M. A1 - Dundas, I. A1 - Dickson, I. A1 - Mushtaq, N. A1 - Grigg, J. SP - 1091 EP - 1097 VL - 40 IS - 5 N2 - Modelling studies suggest that urban cycling is associated with an increased inhaled dose of fossil-fuel derived black carbon. Using the amount of black material in airway macrophages as a marker of long-term inhaled black carbon, we sought to compare inhaled black carbon dose in London cyclists and non-cyclists.Alveolar macrophage carbon was assessed in 28/48 (58%) healthy adults (14 cyclists and 14 non-cyclists) who attended for induced sputum. Short-term (24 h) exposure to black carbon was assessed on a representative working day in 27/28. Serum interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was assessed 26/28.Cyclists had increased airway macrophage carbon compared with non-cyclists (1.81±0.21 μm(2) vs. 1.11±0.07 μm(2), P <0.01). Short-term monitoring showed no difference in 24 h black carbon exposure between the 2 groups. However, cyclists were exposed to higher concentrations of black carbon during commuting (P <0.01). Airway macrophage carbon was associated monitored commute black carbon (n=28, r = 0.47, P <0.05). TNF-α, but not other cytokines, was increased in cyclists (P <0.05).Commuting to work by bicycle London is associated with increased long-term inhaled dose of BC. Whether cycling per se increases inhaled BC dose remains unclear.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0903-1936 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00195711 ID - ref1 ER -