Health effects of indoor PM2.5 collected by cyclone technique

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20614
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 58:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Takano Hirohisa 京都大学, 地球環境学堂, 研究員 (60281698)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 奥田 知明 慶應義塾大学, 理工学部(矢上), 教授 (30348809)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: サイクロン / PM2.5 / 公共的屋内空間 / 生体影響 / 影響成分

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We showed that subway particles contain more iron and copper components than outdoor ambient particles, and we also clarified their chemical composition as well as the form of the metals. These components may affect the respiratory system, allergy/immune system, and circulatory system, and can also exacerbate asthma and infectious pathologies. As the underlying mechanisms, the components can contribute to the enhancement of inflammatory response, antigen presenting ability, cell death, and DNA damage in airway epithelial cells, antigen-presenting cells and vascular endothelial cells.

Free Research Field

環境医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日常生活において我々が屋外より多くの時間を過ごす屋内については、PM2.5の濃度、発生源、成分、その健康影響に関する知見は乏しかった。
本件研究成果により、屋内の粒子の成分特性、影響特性を明らかにした。呼吸器系、アレルギー・免疫系、循環器系への健康影響が無視できず、成分によっては、屋外より強い可能性もあることを指摘した点が、学術的にも社会的にも意義深い。