{"id":654935,"date":"2025-02-27T18:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T15:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/aged-biomass-emissions-could-pose-greater-risk-to-lungs-than-fresh-wildfire-smoke\/"},"modified":"2025-02-27T18:15:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T15:15:15","slug":"aged-biomass-emissions-could-pose-greater-risk-to-lungs-than-fresh-wildfire-smoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/aged-biomass-emissions-could-pose-greater-risk-to-lungs-than-fresh-wildfire-smoke\/","title":{"rendered":"#Aged biomass emissions could pose greater risk to lungs than fresh wildfire smoke"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n The BEAS-2B stained with Calcein-AM\/PI were observed under the fluorescent microscope to see the formation of apoptotic bodies following exposure to 200 \u03bcg mL\u22121<\/sup> of: (a) untreated control of cells at 6 h; (b) 4NC-exposed cells at 6 h; (c) 4NC-exposed cells at 12 h; (d) 4NC-exposed cells at 24 h; (e) 4NC-exposed cells at 48 h; and (f) untreated control cells at 48 h. The images on the left are scaled to 50 \u03bcm, and zoomed images are scaled to 10 \u03bcm in size. Credit: Environmental Pollution<\/i> (2024). DOI: 10.1016\/j.envpol.2024.125173
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Biomass burning\u2014whether from wildfires, wood stoves or agricultural fires\u2014sends massive amounts of tiny particles and chemicals into the air. These emissions are not just an environmental issue; they pose serious health risks, especially for our lungs.<\/p>\n

An Environmental Pollution<\/i> study<\/a>, co-authored by Dr. Jason Surratt, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill, reveals how two key components of biomass smoke\u2014levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol\u2014affect human lung cells. Their findings suggest that aged smoke, which has undergone chemical changes in the atmosphere, could be even more dangerous than fresh smoke.<\/p>\n

Biomass burning refers to the combustion of organic materials like wood, leaves and crop residues. This process releases large amounts of carbon-based aerosols, which contribute to air pollution. Among the many chemicals produced in the smoke, levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol serve as important markers.<\/p>\n

Levoglucosan is a sugar-like compound released when wood burns, while 4-nitrocatechol forms when smoke interacts with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, a process known as chemical aging. While scientists have long studied the environmental effects of biomass burning, less is known about how these compounds directly impact human health.<\/p>\n

In the study, “Evidence for Cytotoxicity and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Lung Cells Exposed to Biomass Burning Aerosol Constituents: Levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol,” Dr. Surratt and colleagues at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Polish Academy of Science<\/a>s and Pr\u00edncipe Felipe Research Center Foundation (CIPF) conducted laboratory experiments to compare how levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol affect human lung cells.<\/p>\n

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\n Graphical abstract. Credit: Environmental Pollution<\/i> (2024). DOI: 10.1016\/j.envpol.2024.125173
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They used two different types of lung cells: BEAS-2B cells, which represent normal lung-lining cells, and A549 cells, which come from lung cancer tissue and are commonly used in respiratory studies. The researchers exposed these cells to different concentrations of levoglucosan and 4-nitrocatechol over 24 and 48 hours. They then measured cell survival, stress levels and signs of damage to the cells’ mitochondria\u2014the “power plants” of cells that generate energy.<\/p>\n

Their key findings were that aged smoke is more toxic:<\/p>\n