Stimulation of IL-8 release from epithelial cells by gas cooker PM10: a pilot study

Objective-To measure the effect of matter collected by a method that has a 50% efficiency for particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 mum (PM10), generated by gas and electric cooking, on A549 epithelial cells with and w ithout nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Method-Multiple indoor PM10 samples were collected on Teflon filters during the use of gas or electric cookers. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations we re measured with a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) syste m. Results-Treatment of A549 cells with PM10 generated from gas cooking result ed in increased concentrations of IL-8 compared with untreated cells; parti cles from the electric cooker had no effect. NO2 did not alter the concentr ation of IL-8. Conclusion-PM10 generated by gas cooking has the potential to cause proinfl ammatory effects in lung cells. This may have implications for susceptible people.