Association Between Levels of Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in Blood of Employees at Motor Vehicle Test Center

Exposure to fine particles can cause chronic and acute inflammation that may change cells to be abnormal. Inflammation occurs when the human body responds to exposure to particulate matter (PM) by releasing Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α), a protein that signals inflammation. The object of the present study was to analyze the correlation between human exposure to PM and blood concentrations of TNF-α in Pusat Pengujian Kendaraan Bermotor (PKB), in Ujung Menteng and Pulogadung, in East Jakarta, Indonesia. The study included 42mechanics from PKB and 27 control participants. The independent T-test was used to assess the smoking status, obesity incidence, and age of the participants. In addition, TNF-α concentrations were analyzed using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immune assay (ELISA) technique and a Human TNF-α/TNFSFIA HS. The study used quantitative analysis to compare TNF-α concentration with the variables in both sample groups. Results showed a higher average concentration of TNF-α inthe blood samples of the mechanics group than in those of the control group (p-value << 0.05), meaning that PM 2.52.5 exposure may increase TNF-α concentration in human blood.