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Inhalation Toxicology
International Forum for Respiratory Research
Volume 23, 2011 - Issue 4
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Research Article

The Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory (APEL) for controlled human exposure to diesel exhaust and other inhalants: characterization and comparison to existing facilities

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Pages 219-225 | Received 11 Jan 2011, Accepted 08 Feb 2011, Published online: 25 Mar 2011
 

Abstract

Objective: The Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory (APEL) was designed for the controlled inhalation of human subjects to aged and diluted diesel exhaust (DE) to mimic “real-world” occupational and environmental conditions.

Methods: An EPA Tier 3-compliant, 6.0 kW diesel generator is operated under discrete cyclic loads to simulate diesel on-road emissions. The engine accepts standard ultra-low sulfur diesel or a variety of alternative fuels (such as biodiesel) via a partitioned tank. A portion of raw exhaust is drawn into the primary dilution system and is diluted 9:1 with compressed air at standard temperature (20°C) and humidity (40%) levels. The exhaust is further diluted approximately 25:1 by high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered air (FA) and then aged for 4 min before entering the 4 × 6 × 7-foot exposure booth. An optional HEPA filter path immediately proximal to the booth can generate a particle-reduced (gas-enriched) exposure. In-booth particulate is read by a nephelometer to provide an instantaneous light scattering coefficient for closed-loop system control. A Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and multi-stage impactor measures particle size distribution. Filter sampling allows determination of sessional average concentrations of size-fractionated and unfractionated particulate oxidative potential, elemental carbon, organic carbon and trace elements.

Results: Approximately 300 μg/m3 PM2.5 is routinely achievable at APEL and is well characterized in terms of oxidative potential and elemental components.

Conclusion: APEL efficiently creates fresh DE, appropriately aged and diluted for human experimentation at safe yet realistic concentrations. Description of exposure characteristics allows comparison to other international efforts to deepen the current evidence base regarding the health effects of DE.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following individuals for their generous administrative and/or logistical support: Karen Donaldson, Norma Cooper, Robert Major, Scott Brown, Minh Nguyen, Nima Jelveh, Dr. Karen Bartlett and Dr. Steven Rogak. The senior author (CC) would like to thank Dr. Joel Kaufman for his mentoring and encouragement to further this work.

Declaration of interest

Funding for this project generously provided by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and the University of British Columbia.

The first online version of this paper contained an error in table 2, and the figure 2 label has been amended – FRGE has now been corrected to PRGE.

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