New Chip Model Simulates Air Pollutant Effects on Human Airways
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Israeli researchers have created an "organ-on-a-chip" model simulating human airways to study air pollutant effects. The study found repeated benzene exposure triggered cellular responses at previously safe levels, even without direct toxicity. This development follows a recent high benzene pollution incident near Haifa's oil refineries, prompting school relocations. The new technology aims to improve health risk assessments for air contaminants.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Researchers developed an "organ-on-a-chip" model to study air pollutant effects on human airways.
- Repeated benzene exposure triggered cellular responses at low concentrations, previously considered safe.
- The study was prompted by a recent high benzene pollution incident near Haifa's oil refineries.
- The new technology uses reprogrammed stem cells to mimic human respiratory tissue.
- The model aims to improve health risk assessments for air contaminants.
Researchers from Rambam Health Care Campus and the Technion have developed a novel "organ-on-a-chip" model that simulates human respiratory pathways. This groundbreaking technology allows scientists to study the effects of air pollutants, such as benzene, on human tissue directly. The study, published in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, revealed that repeated exposure to benzene at concentrations previously considered safe triggered a cellular response in the simulated airways, even when direct toxicity was not observed.
This development comes in the wake of a reported unusual pollution incident near the Haifa oil refineries, where high benzene levels were detected. The Ministry of Health confirmed that maintenance work at the Bazan complex preceded the incident. In response, classes at two schools in nearby Kiryat Ata were temporarily relocated. While monitoring stations around the complex registered normal levels, one specific station near the Dshanayim industrial zone in Kiryat Ata recorded exceptionally high benzene concentrations.
Benzene, a volatile organic compound classified as a definite human carcinogen, is found in cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions. The World Health Organization links benzene exposure to an increased lifetime cancer risk, even at low concentrations. The new chip technology addresses a critical gap in understanding how repeated exposure to seemingly low levels of pollutants can impact human cells, a question difficult to answer with traditional epidemiological studies or animal testing.
The "organ-on-a-chip" system utilizes induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) reprogrammed into airway epithelial cells. This allows researchers to create a functional model of a specific part of the respiratory tract. By exposing these cells to varying concentrations of benzene, the team observed an increase in cytokine secretion, specifically IL-10, after repeated exposures, indicating a cellular reaction that might not be apparent in standard toxicity tests. The researchers believe this platform will significantly enhance the assessment of air pollutant risks, potentially allowing for the direct testing of environmental air samples in the future.