Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02044 Espoo, Finland.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 28;19(1):311. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010311.
The adverse effects of air pollutants on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems are unquestionable. However, in recent years, indications of effects beyond these organ systems have become more evident. Traffic-related air pollution has been linked with neurological diseases, exacerbated cognitive dysfunction, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the exact air pollutant compositions and exposure scenarios leading to these adverse health effects are not known. Although several components of air pollution may be at play, recent experimental studies point to a key role of ultrafine particles (UFPs). While the importance of UFPs has been recognized, almost nothing is known about the smallest fraction of UFPs, and only >23 nm emissions are regulated in the EU. Moreover, the role of the semivolatile fraction of the emissions has been neglected. The Transport-Derived Ultrafines and the Brain Effects (TUBE) project will increase knowledge on harmful ultrafine air pollutants, as well as semivolatile compounds related to adverse health effects. By including all the major current combustion and emission control technologies, the TUBE project aims to provide new information on the adverse health effects of current traffic, as well as information for decision makers to develop more effective emission legislation. Most importantly, the TUBE project will include adverse health effects beyond the respiratory system; TUBE will assess how air pollution affects the brain and how air pollution particles might be removed from the brain. The purpose of this report is to describe the TUBE project, its background, and its goals.
空气污染物对呼吸系统和心血管系统的不良影响是毋庸置疑的。然而，近年来，超出这些器官系统影响的迹象变得更加明显。与交通相关的空气污染与神经疾病有关，加剧了认知功能障碍和阿尔茨海默病。然而，导致这些不良健康影响的确切空气污染物成分和暴露情况尚不清楚。尽管空气污染的几个成分可能在起作用，但最近的实验研究指出超细颗粒（UFPs）起着关键作用。虽然 UFPs 的重要性已得到认可，但人们对 UFPs 的最小部分几乎一无所知，而欧盟只规定了 >23nm 的排放。此外，排放的半挥发性部分的作用被忽视了。交通衍生超细颗粒与大脑效应（TUBE）项目将增加对有害超细空气污染物的了解，以及与不良健康影响相关的半挥发性化合物。通过包括所有主要的当前燃烧和排放控制技术，TUBE 项目旨在提供有关当前交通的不良健康影响的新信息，并为决策者提供制定更有效的排放法规的信息。最重要的是，TUBE 项目将包括呼吸系统以外的不良健康影响；TUBE 将评估空气污染如何影响大脑以及空气污染物颗粒如何从大脑中清除。本报告旨在描述 TUBE 项目、其背景和目标。
