Association between particulate compositional changes during filter extraction and the interpretation of filter-based PM2.5 toxicology

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a global public health concern as it has wellestablished adverse respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. Additionally, health effects have been shown to vary based on PM2.5 composition highlighting the importance of the contribution of metallic and organic species. To better understand the biological plausibility of epidemiology associations to PM2.5, ambient filter-based toxicology studies are routinely performed. These studies require extraction of ambient PM2.5 from a filter and the methods for this extraction vary between research groups and differences in extraction methods utilized have been shown to result in differential toxicology outcomes.;This study compared characterization data for both ambient filter-based and corresponding extraction solutions prepared for toxicology research to identify compositional changes that occur due to the extraction methods. PM2.5 was characterized for concentration, metals, and organic compounds present in both ambient and extracted samples. While total PM2.5 mass recovery was high following extraction, there were significant and near complete losses of health relevant compounds. Following these findings, a study to assess the impact these compositional changes have on the interpretation of associations to inflammatory responses was designed. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).