Traffic-related wear particles: Evaluating source-specific oxidative potential and in vivo toxicity to inform public health policies

Non-exhaust traffic emissions from brakes, tires, and road wear as well as resuspended road dust, constitute a significant and growing share of particulate matter (PM) in urban environments. These particles are of particular concern due to their capacity to induce oxidative stress and inflammation.

However, the contributions of individual sources and particle composition to oxidative potential, oxidative stress, and inflammation remain unclear. This knowledge gap limits current strategies to reduce the health burden from non-exhaust traffic emissions.

We will investigate the differential toxicity of non-exhaust traffic emissions with respect to their sources, oxidative potential, and in vivo acute phase toxicity.

We will generate and collect brake, tire, and road wear particles under controlled laboratory conditions, and aerosolize and collect resuspended road dust from roads under ambient conditions.

Oxidative potential will be assessed using various acellular assays, and in vivo acute-phase toxicity will be evaluated in vivo through intratracheal PM instillation.

Comprehensive particle characterization will be conducted to identify source-specific markers and components that contribute to the oxidative potential and in vivo toxicity.

The project will generate new knowledge into the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of non-exhaust traffic emissions and aims to inform the development of new public health policies and mitigation strategies.