Title: Characterisation of nanoparticles resulting from different braking behaviours

Authors: Alain Perrenoud, Michael Gasser, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Peter Gehr, Michael Riediker

Addresses: Municipality of Langenthal, Jurastrasse 22, CH-4900 Langenthal, Switzerland. ' Division of Histology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Berne, Baltzerstrasse 2, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. ' Division of Histology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Berne, Baltzerstrasse 2, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. ' Division of Histology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Berne, Baltzerstrasse 2, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. ' Institute for Work and Health (Institut Universitaire Romand de Sante au Travail), Rue du Bugnon 21, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

Abstract: Brake wear particulate matter (PM) may provoke cardiovascular effects. A system was developed to expose cells to airborne PM from brakes. Six car models were tested, each with full stop and normal deceleration. PM numbers, mass and surface, metals, and carbon compounds were measured. Full stop produced higher PM number and mass concentrations than normal deceleration (up to 10 million particles/cm³ in 0.2 m³ volume). 87% of the PM mass was in the fine (100 nm to 2.5 μm) and 12% in the coarse (2.5 to 10 μm) fraction, whereas 74% of the PM number was nanoscaled (ultrafine < 0.1 μm) and 26% fine PM. Elemental concentrations were 2,364, 236, and 18 μg/m³ of iron, copper and manganese, respectively, and 664 and 36 μg/m³ of organic and elemental carbon. PM-release differed between cars and braking behaviour. Temperature and humidity were stable. In conclusion, the established system seems feasible for exposing cell cultures to brake wear PM.

Keywords: brake wear particles; nanoparticles; ultrafine particles; fine particles; PM2.5; PM10; particle numbers; size distribution; airborne particles; metal content; elemental carbon; organic carbon; OC/EC; cardiovascular effects; vehicle braking; cell cultures; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBNN.2010.034123

International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2010 Vol.1 No.1, pp.17 - 33

Published online: 15 Jul 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article