Fuel feedstock determines biodiesel exhaust toxicity in a human airway epithelial cell exposure model

Katherine R Landwehr; Jessica Hillas; Ryan Mead-Hunter; Peter Brooks; Andrew King; Rebecca A O'Leary; Anthony Kicic; Benjamin J Mullins; Alexander N Larcombe; AusREC; and; WAERP

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126637

Fuel feedstock determines biodiesel exhaust toxicity in a human airway epithelial cell exposure model

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Oct 15:420:126637. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126637. Epub 2021 Jul 14.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth 6845, Western Australia, Australia; Respiratory Environmental Health, Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: katherine.landwehr@telethonkids.org.au.
² Respiratory Environmental Health, Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
³ Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth 6845, Western Australia, Australia.
⁴ School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ Fluid Dynamics Research Group, School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
⁶ Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Perth 6000, Western Australia, Australia.
⁷ Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth 6845, Western Australia, Australia; Respiratory Environmental Health, Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
⁸ Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth 6845, Western Australia, Australia; Respiratory Environmental Health, Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia.
⁹ Telethon Kids Institute, Centre for Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Disease, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle 2305, New South Wales, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, North Adelaide 5006, South Australia, Australia.
¹⁰ Telethon Kids Institute, Centre for Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth 6009, Western Australia, Australia; St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco, Perth 6008, Western Australia, Australia.

PMID: 34329109
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126637

Abstract

Background: Biodiesel is promoted as a sustainable replacement for commercial diesel. Biodiesel fuel and exhaust properties change depending on the base feedstock oil/fat used during creation. The aims of this study were, for the first time, to compare the exhaust exposure health impacts of a wide range of biodiesels made from different feedstocks and relate these effects with the corresponding exhaust characteristics.

Method: Primary airway epithelial cells were exposed to diluted exhaust from an engine running on conventional diesel and biodiesel made from Soy, Canola, Waste Cooking Oil, Tallow, Palm and Cottonseed. Exhaust properties and cellular viability and mediator release were analysed post exposure.

Results: The exhaust physico-chemistry of Tallow biodiesel was the most different to diesel as well as the most toxic, with exposure resulting in significantly decreased cellular viability (95.8 ± 6.5%) and increased release of several immune mediators including IL-6 (+223.11 ± 368.83 pg/mL) and IL-8 (+1516.17 ± 2908.79 pg/mL) above Air controls. In contrast Canola biodiesel was the least toxic with exposure only increasing TNF-α (4.91 ± 8.61).

Conclusion: This study, which investigated the toxic effects for the largest range of biodiesels, shows that exposure to different exhausts results in a spectrum of toxic effects in vitro when combusted under identical conditions.

Keywords: Biodiesel; Exhaust exposure; Health; In vitro exposure model; Vehicle emissions.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Biofuels* / toxicity
Cells, Cultured
Cooking
Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
Gasoline
Humans
Vehicle Emissions / toxicity*

Substances

Air Pollutants
Biofuels
Gasoline
Vehicle Emissions