Combustion-Derived particles from different fuels induce different cytotoxic effects on A549 cells

The biological effects induced in human alveolar cells by biomass combustion-derived particles (PM10), collected from the emission of heating systems operating with different fuels, have been analysed. Particles emitted from pellet, charcoal and wood combustion, were chemically characterized and used for the exposure of monocultures of human A549 alveolar cell line. Cell viability, pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions, oxidative stress and DNA damage were analysed. Pellet-derived particles seem to have higher toxic properties in comparison with charcoal and wood ones, suggesting a correlation between their chemical properties and toxicological profile. These data demonstrate that biomass combustion-derived particles may activate different toxicological pathways, suggesting that the type of fuel and its quality may have an important role in the strategies to prevent respiratory diseases.