This study will examine how breathing wildfire-related air pollution (WRAP) for one hour affects healthy adults. The main question the study will answer if the effect of WRAP exposure on p-tau, a blood marker of cognitive decline. The changes in p-tau concentrations after exposure to WRAP will be compared to the changes in p-tau after exposure to clean air. Participants will: * Have 2 study visits - one visit with exposure to clean air and one visit with exposure to simulated wildfire smoke * Have blood drawn before and after each exposure * Complete cognitive tests and memory tasks before and after each exposure
* Exposures will take place in a booth-like exposure chamber (1 x 0.7 x 1.8 m) with glass upper panels. One person will be exposed at a time. * Simulated wildfire smoke will be generated by burning pine wood at a temperature that mimics smoldering combustion. The levels of smoke introduced into the exposure chamber are similar to those found during outdoor bonfires and wildfire events. The levels of particulate matter (PM) will be closely monitored during the exposure.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
12
1 hour exposure to simulated wildfire smoke (300 ug/m3 PM)
1 hour exposure to clean (HEPA-filtered) air (0 ug/m3 PM)
Rutgers-EOHSI
Piscataway, New Jersey, United States
Changes in plasma P-tau 217 concentration from pre-exposure to post-exposure
Using blood samples collected pre- and post-exposure, the primary outcome will be assessed by measurement of plasma phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 (p-tau217) using an ultrasensitive immunoassay
Time frame: Immediately before, immediately after each exposure
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