How common air pollution chemicals (PAHs) may harm human lungs
Official title: Linking PAH Exposure to Health Outcomes Using Human Primary In Vitro Respiratory Model
Funded at Oregon State University · NIH-11360154 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests how mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air can damage human lung cells grown in the lab, to help explain links to asthma and other breathing problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Corvallis, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2009 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $298,484 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES016465-17 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360154 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who live or work near contaminated sites with likely PAH exposure, or those with asthma or other pollution-sensitive lung conditions, are the kinds of communities whose risks this research aims to clarify.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals whose health concerns are unrelated to inhaled pollutants or lung inflammation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers grow primary human bronchial cells in a 3-D air–liquid system that mimics the lining of the human lung. They expose these lung-like tissues to complex PAH mixtures found near contaminated sites and measure cell damage and biological markers of harm. The team uses benchmark dose modeling to find exposure levels that trigger harmful responses and studies the biological pathways that lead to inflammation or injury. Results are intended to connect specific chemical exposures with likely health outcomes in exposed communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pinpoint which PAH mixtures and exposure levels are most likely to harm lungs and help guide cleanup, regulation, and protections for exposed people.
How similar studies have gone: Air–liquid interface human airway models have provided useful insights into air pollution effects before, but applying them to diverse, environmentally relevant PAH mixtures is less well studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon State University
Corvallis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tilton, Susan C — Oregon State University
- Study coordinator: Tilton, Susan C
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.