Effects of Eyjafjallajokull volcanic ash on innate immune system responses and bacterial growth in vitro.

ABSTRACT:

Background

On 20 March 2010, the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted for the first time in 190 years. Despite many epidemiological reports showing effects of volcanic ash on the respiratory system, there are limited data evaluating cellular mechanisms involved in the response to ash. Epidemiological studies have observed an increase in respiratory infections in subjects and populations exposed to volcanic eruptions.

Methods

We physicochemically characterized volcanic ash, finding various sizes of particles, as well as the presence of several transition metals, including iron. We examined the effect of Eyjafjallajökull ash on primary rat alveolar epithelial cells and human airway epithelial cells (20-100 µg/cm(2)), primary rat and human alveolar macrophages (5-20 µg/cm

SUBMITTER: Monick MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3672917 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature