Pulmonary Effects of 100% Biodiesel Exhaust (BD100Broncho)

Air pollution is a global environmental and health concern, contributing to onset and deterioration of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. As climate change and dependence on diminishing fossil fuel supplies have taken center stage in political and scientific debates, renewable carbon-neutral fuels like biodiesel receive increasing attention. The most common biodiesel within the European Union, rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME) is perceived to be a "green fuel", as it is sustainable and of biological origin, and therefore is often predicted to be less harmful to human health. Whilst replacing petrodiesel with biodiesel may have advantageous ecological impacts, consequences to respiratory health remained largely unexplored. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate whether inhalation of 100% RME biodiesel exhaust would result in an acute airway inflammatory response in healthy human subjects, as shown previously following exposure to petrodiesel exhaust.

One hour exposure to filtered air during intermittent exercise in controlled chamber, 6 hours after exposure bronchoscopy is performed.

One hour exposure to biodiesel exhaust (generated at same running conditions as earlier studies with diesel exhaust at approximate particle matter concentration 300 mcg/m3) during intermittent exercise in controlled chamber. Six hours after exposure bronchoscopy is performed.

The bronchoscopy procedure was performed six hours after completion of the exposure session, with sampling of endobronchial mucosal biopsies, bronchial wash and bronchoalveolar lavage performed under topical anaesthesia.

Bronchial wash (BW) collected by bronchoscopy will be analyzed for inflammatory cell counts (cells/ml).

BAL collected by bronchoscopy will be analyzed for inflammatory markers, such as cell counts (cells/ml).

Biopsies collected by bronchoscopy will be analyzed for inflammatory markers, such as cell counts (cells/mm2).

Inclusion Criteria: Normal ECG Normal Lung function Normal Blood samples Exclusion Criteria: Smoking Pre-existing metabolomic, respiratory and cardiovascular disease Exposure to high levels of pollutants in occupation