Abstract

OBJECTIVE To measure the effect of matter collected by a method that has a 50% efficiency for particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm (PM₁₀), generated by gas and electric cooking, on A549 epithelial cells with and without 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 were measured with a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system.

RESULTS Treatment of A549 cells with PM₁₀ generated from gas cooking resulted in increased concentrations of IL-8 compared with untreated cells; particles from the electric cooker had no effect. NO₂ did not alter the concentration of IL-8.

CONCLUSION PM₁₀generated by gas cooking has the potential to cause proinflammatory effects in lung cells. This may have implications for susceptible people.