Car brake particles harm lung cells

BERN, Switzerland, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Particles released by car brake pads during a heavy stop can harm lung cells in vitro, researchers in Switzerland said.

Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser and Peter Gehr of the University of Bern, Switzerland, and Michael Riediker of the Institute for Work and Health in Lausanne, Switzerland, worked with a team of researchers to study the effects of brake particles on cultured lung cells placed in a chamber close to the axle of a car.

"Brake wear contributes up to 20 percent of total traffic emissions, but the health effects of brake particles remain largely unstudied. We've found that the metals in brake wear particles can damage junctions between cells by a mechanism involving oxidative stress," the researchers said in a statement.

The analysis revealed that brake wear particles contain considerable amounts of iron, copper and organic carbon. Exposure to these pollutants caused increased signs of oxidative stress and inflammation in the cells and hard braking caused most exposure, the researchers said.

Some exposure still occurred even when the brakes were not being applied, presumably due to residual brake particles coming off the turning axle and the braking system, researchers said.

The finding is published in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology.