Texas A&M Develops Faster Test for Airborne Chemical Risks

New lung cell model can reliably screen chemicals for respiratory toxicity

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:08am

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An abstract, highly structured painting in soft earth tones depicting the complex molecular interactions and chemical structures involved in the respiratory toxicity of airborne chemicals like acrolein and formic acid, conveying the impact on the lungs through sweeping geometric forms and precise botanical spirals.A new lung cell model developed at Texas A&M can quickly test the respiratory risks of airborne chemicals, providing crucial data to update safety guidelines.College Station Today

A multidisciplinary research team at Texas A&M University has identified a faster way to determine which airborne chemicals pose a threat to human lungs. The team used lab-grown lung cells that behave like those inside the human body to screen two volatile organic compounds - acrolein and formic acid - for respiratory toxicity.

Why it matters

This new air-liquid interface model can provide quicker and more reliable data on the health risks of airborne chemicals, which is especially important after disasters like the 2023 East Palestine train derailment where chemical exposures spiked. Current government safety guidelines may not offer enough protection for some chemicals like formic acid.

The details

The researchers placed 16HBE bronchial cells in a lifelike model of human lungs to see how they were affected by short-term, high-level exposure to vapors from acrolein and formic acid. Unlike standard research using submerged cells, the air-liquid interface method places cells on a collagen-coated mesh that mimics human lungs when given nutrients. The team found that acrolein penetrated the lung's protective barrier and caused oxidative stress and inflammation, while formic acid altered the function of tight junction proteins between cells and caused cell death at high doses.

  • The study was published in April 2026.

The players

Olivia Lampe

A doctoral student in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and member of Texas A&M's Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology, who was the lead author of the study.

Natalie Johnson

An associate professor at the Texas A&M School of Public Health and a member of the Texas A&M Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology, who was involved in the study.

Weihsueh Chiu

A faculty member at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and a member of the Texas A&M Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology, who was involved in the study.

Eva Vitucci

A postdoctoral research associate at the Texas A&M School of Public Health and a member of the Texas A&M Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology, who was involved in the study.

Carolyn Cannon

A faculty member at the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, who was involved in the study.

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What they’re saying

“These common chemicals often spike after disasters like the 2023 East Palestine train derailment, yet there is surprisingly little data on their health risks.”

— Olivia Lampe, Doctoral student

“These data support that the current government safety guidelines for acrolein are generally effective. Formic acid, on the other hand, needs more research to determine if current guidelines offer enough protection.”

— Olivia Lampe, Doctoral student

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue studying the health impacts of other airborne chemicals using this new lung cell model.

The takeaway

This new testing method can provide faster and more reliable data on the respiratory toxicity of airborne chemicals, which is crucial for updating safety guidelines and protecting public health, especially in the aftermath of chemical disasters.