Molecular mechanisms of toxicity from exposure to biofuel emissions
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
In response to concerns over fossil fuel consumption, combustion of biomass and biofuel alternatives has been encouraged in Europe. While cleaner than fossil diesel emissions in terms of sulphur, CO and hydrocarbons, biodiesel emissions are rich in ultrafine particles and NOx and targeted studies indicate that they induce stronger inflammation and oxidative stress.
Early omics screens demonstrated that the molecular interactions that drive pulmonary responses to biodiesel emissions differ from those caused by fossil-diesel exhaust. Combining mRNA and miRNA sequencing with epigenomic arrays, my research aims to characterise transcriptional dysregulation in the lungs of individuals who have been exposed to biodiesel emissions under controlled chamber conditions. This work is accompanied by a multi-platform metabonomic urinalysis, which explores non-invasively accessible signatures of susceptibility to biodiesel emission toxicity.
Relatively little is known of wood smoke toxicity, but exposure has been shown to induce inflammation, cell death and genotoxicity in airway models. Mirroring my biodiesel study, I aim to characterise transcriptional dysregulation in the pulmonary tissue and activated inflammatory cells of exposed volunteers.
Early omics screens demonstrated that the molecular interactions that drive pulmonary responses to biodiesel emissions differ from those caused by fossil-diesel exhaust. Combining mRNA and miRNA sequencing with epigenomic arrays, my research aims to characterise transcriptional dysregulation in the lungs of individuals who have been exposed to biodiesel emissions under controlled chamber conditions. This work is accompanied by a multi-platform metabonomic urinalysis, which explores non-invasively accessible signatures of susceptibility to biodiesel emission toxicity.
Relatively little is known of wood smoke toxicity, but exposure has been shown to induce inflammation, cell death and genotoxicity in airway models. Mirroring my biodiesel study, I aim to characterise transcriptional dysregulation in the pulmonary tissue and activated inflammatory cells of exposed volunteers.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Liza Selley (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Fussell JC
(2022)
A Review of Road Traffic-Derived Non-Exhaust Particles: Emissions, Physicochemical Characteristics, Health Risks, and Mitigation Measures.
in Environmental science & technology
Selley L
(2021)
Alterations to the urinary metabolome following semi-controlled short exposures to ultrafine particles at a major airport.
in International journal of hygiene and environmental health
Travaglio M
(2020)
Links between air pollution and COVID-19 in England
Travaglio M
(2021)
Links between air pollution and COVID-19 in England
in Environmental Pollution
| Description | Transition to Independence Fellowship |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | Aviation emissions |
| Organisation | National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I performed metabolomic analysis of urine samples provided by this collaborator and authored a manuscript based on the results. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator performed a field study of aviation emissions exposure and collected human urine for analysis. |
| Impact | A manuscript entitled 'Alterations to the urinary metabolome following semi-controlled short exposures to ultrafine particles at a major airport' has been submitted for consideration at the Journal of Environmental Hygiene and Health. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Grenfell Tower Firefighters |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are sequencing free circulating DNA in the blood of firefighters who were present at the Grenfell Tower disaster. Bioinformatic analyses will search for markers of cancers and compare their incidence between individuals who had high low and high exposure to the smoke. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborators at Imperial College have collected blood samples from London Fire Brigade workers who were present at the Grenfell Tower fire and processed them to provide us with plasma. |
| Impact | analysis still on-going |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Grenfell Tower Firefighters |
| Organisation | London Fire Brigade |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We are sequencing free circulating DNA in the blood of firefighters who were present at the Grenfell Tower disaster. Bioinformatic analyses will search for markers of cancers and compare their incidence between individuals who had high low and high exposure to the smoke. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborators at Imperial College have collected blood samples from London Fire Brigade workers who were present at the Grenfell Tower fire and processed them to provide us with plasma. |
| Impact | analysis still on-going |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Wood smoke II study |
| Organisation | Umea University |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of human bronchial tissue and bronchial wash. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exposure of participants to wood smoke and collection of bronchial tissue and bronchial wash samples |
| Impact | None so far - experiments are still in progress. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Article on wood smoke emissions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following a request from a journalist, I was interviewed about current research into wood smoke exposure in humans. An article was published in Ends Report. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.endsreport.com/article/1724627/pm25-pollution-difficult-decisions-government-tackle-dome... |
| Description | Cambridge Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We contributed to a festival showcasing research at the University of Cambridge. Our stall included several activities that centred around the theme of lungs and air pollution exposure. These were a pipetting demonstration that taught guests how to set up an experiment in exposure toxicology, a build a lung workshop using sustainable materials, quiz questions and an ideas tree that sparked discussion of how we can reduce air pollution exposure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk/news/toxicology-unit-cambridge-science-festival |
| Description | Exhibition Road festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A series of activites were set up in the Science Museum, London with members of the Environmental Research Group (Imperial College). These activities were designed to promote discussion around the subject of environmental exposures, with quiz questions targeted at adults and games for younger visitors. The event ran for a full weekend with most visitors being young families. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Green Party online conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following publication of the pre-print 'Links between air pollution and COVID-19 in England' (Travalglio et al.), a colleague and I were invited to present the research and contribute in a panel discussion at an online conference for the Green Party Women. We provided a 15 minute presentation then answered questions from the audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Human Bookshelf event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Several members of the Toxicology Unit acted as 'books' that could be 'borrowed' by visitors to Cambridge Central Library for a 20 minute discussion about their research. We explained our research projects and aims then answered questioned about it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Lecture at UCL-Japan Youth Challenge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I provided a lecture on brake wear toxicity to sixth form students from the UK and from Japan. The event was run by UCL Summer School and takes place between UCL and University of Cambridge each year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Meet the Scientist |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of an Easter Holidays activity series, I gave an interview-style, online workshop to young children in White City to help them learn about non-exhaust emissions. Working with the public engagement team from Imperial College, we put together some quizzes and activities to help the children discover where air pollution comes from and how to reduce exposure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | New Scientist Live |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Collaborating with Imperial College London and UKHSA, we created a stall that encouraged guests to learn about different aspects of research into environmental exposures. The contribution from the MRC Toxicology Unit was a hands-on pipetting activity which showed guests how to set up an in vitro experiment to look at the effects of air pollution on lung cells. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/153206/new-scientist-live-2022/ |
| Description | Online workshop- Off the Curriculum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Off the Curriculum is a charity that aims to provide a broader scientific education to teenagers who do not have access to such resources. Teaching sixth-formers about 'Immunology and environmental exposures', a series of mini lectures were provided by leading researchers in the field. These were interspersed with activities in break out rooms that helped them to test their new-found knowledge of the link between air pollution and immunology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |