[Human health effects of ultrafine particles].

Epidemiologic and clinical studies have linked elevated concentrations of ambient ultrafine particles (UFPs) to adverse health effects. In particular, has been demonstrated an association between UFPs exposure and occurrence of acute respiratory infections, lung cancer, chronic chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Although the biological mechanisms behind these associations are not fully understood, the results of in vitro toxicological research have shown that UFPs induces several types of adverse cellular effects, including cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, DNA oxidative damage and stimulation of proinflammatory cytokine production. In this reviewer are summarized the results of the recent epidemiological and toxicological studies on adverse health effects from exposure to UFPs.