Pulmonary Particulate Matter and Systemic Microvascular Dysfunction

This report describes a study that evaluated whether exposure to fine or nano-titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles may affect cardiovascular endpoints, in particular endothelium-dependent vascular dilation. Dr. Nurkiewicz and colleagues exposed rats via inhalation to 0.5 to 20 mg/m³ TiO₂ for up to 12 hours and evaluated them for vascular dilation and for markers of oxidative stress, coagulation, and inflammation. This study was funded under the Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award.