Airborne Particles and Allergic Inflammation: Involvement of Eicosanoids, Interleukin 8, and Oxygen Radical Production

Several epidemiologic studies have shown an association between increased mortality and morbidity due to respiratory diseases and ambient levels of airborne particles ≤10 μm (PM10) [1–3]. The toxicological mechanisms underlying these disorders remain largely unidentified. The increased prevalence of allergic diseases has also partially been attributed to an increase in the levels of certain air pollutants [4, 5]. Yet there is still only limited data available on the pathomechanisms underlying the effect of airborne particulate matter (APM) on airway inflammatory reactions of healthy and allergic persons [6–8].