Cognitive Function DeclineUFPNCT07311967
Short-Term Health Outcomes of Cooking UFP Exposure
A study testing Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and Gases in people with Cognitive Function Decline and Air Pollution Exposure, run by University of Illinois Chicago at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study examines the short-term respiratory and cognitive effects of exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) generated during typical household cooking. Healthy adults will complete two 6-hour sessions in a controlled exposure chamber at the University of Illinois Chicago: one control day with clean indoor air and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cognitive Function Decline, Air Pollution Exposure, Respiratory Inflammation
- What is being tested?
- Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and Gases
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 2 Jan 2026to 1 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults 18 years of age or older
- Able to understand and speak English sufficiently to complete cognitive testing
- Able and willing to complete two consecutive study sessions lasting approximately 6 hours each
- Able to avoid cooking, toasting, and fume-generating household activities (e.g., strong cleaning products, ironing, hair drying) for 24 hours before each session
- Able to avoid tobacco, marijuana, vaping, and alcohol use as specified in the study protocol
- Able to provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Younger than 18 years old
- Pregnant or planning pregnancy during study participation
- Current smoking or use of:
- Cigarettes
- E-cigarettes or vaping devices
- Marijuana
Show all 24Show fewer
- Shisha/hookah
- Binge drinking, heavy alcohol use, or inability to abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before study visits
- Restaurant chefs or individuals who perform frequent commercial-level cooking
- Individuals who cook two or more frying or grilling meals per day at home
- Cooking anxiety or mageirocophobia
- Any diagnosed neurological disease, including stroke, seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, dementia, or similar conditions
- Any significant respiratory disease, including:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Untreated severe asthma
- Chronic bronchitis or other major lung disease
- Any significant psychiatric condition, including:
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorder
- Untreated substance use disorder
- Severe mood disorder
- Severe anxiety disorder
- Claustrophobia or anxiety in enclosed spaces (if severe enough to interfere with chamber procedures)
- Inability to comply with study procedures or safety requirements
- Any medical or psychological condition that, in the judgement of the investigators, may increase risk or interfere with study participation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
UIC
Chicago, Illinois, 60612
Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh, PhD, 8326077765, mehdiat@uic.edu
Kyle J. Jennette, PhD
About this study
This study examines the short-term respiratory and cognitive effects of exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) generated during typical household cooking. Healthy adults will complete two 6-hour sessions in a controlled exposure chamber at the University of Illinois Chicago: one control day with clean indoor air and one exposure day during which standardized cooking (frying potatoes and grilling beef) is performed by research staff. Participants will not cook or handle food. Lung function will be measured using peak expiratory flow (PEF), and cognitive performance will be assessed using validated tests including the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised and the Processing Speed Index from the WAIS-IV. Airborne particle and gas concentrations in the chamber will be continuously monitored to ensure that exposures remain within levels typical of everyday home cooking. Findings will help characterize acute physiological responses to indoor cooking emissions and inform future research on indoor air quality and potential mitigation strategies.
Read the detailed description
This study evaluates the short-term respiratory and cognitive responses to controlled exposure to cooking-generated ultrafine particles (UFPs). Cooking emissions are one of the most common sources of indoor particulate pollution, yet their acute physiological effects remain poorly characterized. To address this gap, the study uses a controlled exposure chamber environment that reproduces typical household cooking conditions while allowing precise measurement of airborne particle and gas concentrations.
Healthy adult volunteers will participate in two study sessions conducted on consecutive days. On the exposure day, research staff will prepare a standardized meal (frying potatoes and grilling beef) inside the chamber to generate UFPs and co-emitted gases at levels representative of home cooking. On the control day, participants remain in the same chamber but without any cooking activity. Participants will spend approximately six hours in the chamber each day and will remain at rest except during scheduled assessments.
The study employs a randomized two-period crossover design so each participant serves as their own control. Lung function and cognitive performance are assessed multiple times on each day using validated instruments. Air quality is monitored continuously using particle sizing instruments, particle mass monitors, and a gas analyzer to characterize exposure conditions. Pre-defined stopping rules and ventilation procedures are implemented if concentrations exceed levels typical of household cooking.
This study is designed to generate preliminary U.S.-based data on the immediate effects of cooking-related UFP exposure on respiratory function and cognitive performance. Findings will help define exposure-response patterns, support future NIH and American Lung Association proposals, and improve understanding of indoor air quality impacts in everyday environments.
- Being tested
- Clean Indoor Air Exposure (Control), Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and Gases
- Keywords
- Cooking emissions, Neurocognitive function, Respiratory symptoms, Ultrafine particles
- Medical subject headings
- Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Clean Indoor Air Exposure (Control)Other
Participants will be exposed to clean indoor air in a controlled exposure chamber with no cooking activity. This condition serves as the control session for within-subject comparisons.
Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and GasesOther
Participants will be exposed to cooking-generated ultrafine particles and associated gases in a controlled exposure chamber during standardized cooking activities.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Condition (Clean Indoor Air) | Other | Participants will complete a control study session conducted in a controlled exposure chamber with clean indoor air and no cooking activity. Respiratory, cognitive, and physiological outcomes will be assessed during the session. Receives: Other: Clean Indoor Air Exposure (Control) |
| Cooking Emissions Exposure | Experimental | Participants will complete an exposure study session conducted in the same controlled exposure chamber during which cooking activities generate ultrafine particles. Respiratory, cognitive, and physiological outcomes will be assessed during the session. Receives: Other: Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and Gases |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) Total Recall Score
Cognitive performance related to verbal memory will be assessed using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R). The primary metric will be the change in HVLT-R Total Recall Score between exposure and control conditions, calculated from repeated assessments to evaluate short-term cognitive effects of ultrafine particle exposure.
Measured: Measured at baseline and at approximately 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after session start on both study days
Change in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)
Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) will be measured using a handheld peak flow meter to assess short-term changes in lung function following exposure to cooking-generated ultrafine particles compared with the clean-air control day. Changes are evaluated within subjects using repeated measurements across both conditions.
Measured: Measured at baseline and at approximately 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after session start on both study days
Change in WAIS Symbol Search Raw Score
Cognitive performance related to processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using the Symbol Search subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). The primary metric will be the change in WAIS Symbol Search raw score between exposure and control conditions, calculated from repeated assessments to evaluate short-term cognitive effects of ultrafine particle exposure.
Measured: Measured at baseline and at approximately 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after session start on both study days
Secondary outcomes (6)
Ultrafine Particle Number Size Distribution in particles/cm3
Ultrafine particle number size distributions will be measured using a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and Partector 2 Pro. These measurements characterize exposure conditions and allow correlation with physiological responses.
Measured: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods.
Fine Particle Mass Concentrations (PM2.5) in microgram/cm3
Particle mass concentrations (PM2.5) will be measured using a DustTrak DRX monitor to quantify particulate exposure profiles during cooking and control sessions. These measurements characterize exposure conditions and allow correlation with physiological responses.
Measured: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
Total Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) concentration in ppm
Concentrations of over 50 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will be monitored using FTIR spectroscopy (Gasmet DX4040) to characterize exposure to total VOC concentration during cooking. The concentration of individual gases will be add up to quantify total VOC concentration.
Measured: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
CO2 concentration in ppm
Description: Concentrations of CO2 will be monitored using Atmocube, Atmo, USA instrument. This measurement characterize exposure conditions and allow correlation with physiological responses.
Measured: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
CO concentration in ppm
Description: Concentrations of CO will be monitored using FTIR spectroscopy (Gasmet DX4040) to characterize exposure to CO during cooking. The
Measured: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
NO2 concentration in ppm
Concentrations of NO2 will be monitored using FTIR spectroscopy (Gasmet DX4040) to characterize exposure to NO2 during cooking.
Measured: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Dec 2025
- Study start2 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cognitive Function DeclineStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Illinois ChicagoThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- This study uses a two-period randomized crossover design in which each participant completes both conditions: a control session with clean indoor air and an exposure session involving cooking-generated ultrafine particles. The two sessions occur on consecutive days in the same controlled exposure chamber, and participants serve as their own control to allow within-subject comparisons of respiratory and cognitive responses.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh, University of Illinois Chicago
- Investigators
- Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Illinois Chicago
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07311967
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY2025-1120
- Acronym
- UFP
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 28 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 31 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because this study does not collect biospecimens and all data are used solely for the analyses specified in the protocol. Data are stored in coded form and are not intended for secondary research use. In addition, screening data for ineligible individuals are destroyed within 3 days, and no identifiable information is retained beyond what is required for regulatory documentation. Only aggregate, de-identified results may be shared with participants upon request, but individual-level datasets will not be made available to external researchers.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Short-Term Health Outcomes of Cooking UFP Exposure
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07311967
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UFP / STUDY2025-1120
- Keywords
- Cooking emissions, Neurocognitive function, Respiratory symptoms, Ultrafine particles
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois ChicagoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study examines the short-term respiratory and cognitive effects of exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) generated during typical household cooking. Healthy adults will complete two 6-hour sessions in a controlled exposure chamber at the University of Illinois Chicago: one control day with clean indoor air and one exposure day during which standardized cooking (frying potatoes and grilling beef) is performed by research staff. Participants will not cook or handle food. Lung function will be measured using peak expiratory flow (PEF), and cognitive performance will be assessed using validated tests including the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised and the Processing Speed Index from the WAIS-IV. Airborne particle and gas concentrations in the chamber will be continuously monitored to ensure that exposures remain within levels typical of everyday home cooking. Findings will help characterize acute physiological responses to indoor cooking emissions and inform future research on indoor air quality and potential mitigation strategies.
Detailed description
This study evaluates the short-term respiratory and cognitive responses to controlled exposure to cooking-generated ultrafine particles (UFPs). Cooking emissions are one of the most common sources of indoor particulate pollution, yet their acute physiological effects remain poorly characterized. To address this gap, the study uses a controlled exposure chamber environment that reproduces typical household cooking conditions while allowing precise measurement of airborne particle and gas concentrations.
Healthy adult volunteers will participate in two study sessions conducted on consecutive days. On the exposure day, research staff will prepare a standardized meal (frying potatoes and grilling beef) inside the chamber to generate UFPs and co-emitted gases at levels representative of home cooking. On the control day, participants remain in the same chamber but without any cooking activity. Participants will spend approximately six hours in the chamber each day and will remain at rest except during scheduled assessments.
The study employs a randomized two-period crossover design so each participant serves as their own control. Lung function and cognitive performance are assessed multiple times on each day using validated instruments. Air quality is monitored continuously using particle sizing instruments, particle mass monitors, and a gas analyzer to characterize exposure conditions. Pre-defined stopping rules and ventilation procedures are implemented if concentrations exceed levels typical of household cooking.
This study is designed to generate preliminary U.S.-based data on the immediate effects of cooking-related UFP exposure on respiratory function and cognitive performance. Findings will help define exposure-response patterns, support future NIH and American Lung Association proposals, and improve understanding of indoor air quality impacts in everyday environments.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study uses a two-period randomized crossover design in which each participant completes both conditions: a control session with clean indoor air and an exposure session involving cooking-generated ultrafine particles. The two sessions occur on consecutive days in the same controlled exposure chamber, and participants serve as their own control to allow within-subject comparisons of respiratory and cognitive responses.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Condition (Clean Indoor Air) | Other | Other: Clean Indoor Air Exposure (Control)Participants will complete a control study session conducted in a controlled exposure chamber with clean indoor air and no cooking activity. Respiratory, cognitive, and physiological outcomes will be assessed during the session. |
| Cooking Emissions Exposure | Experimental | Other: Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and GasesParticipants will complete an exposure study session conducted in the same controlled exposure chamber during which cooking activities generate ultrafine particles. Respiratory, cognitive, and physiological outcomes will be assessed during the session. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Adults 18 years of age or older
- Able to understand and speak English sufficiently to complete cognitive testing
- Able and willing to complete two consecutive study sessions lasting approximately 6 hours each
- Able to avoid cooking, toasting, and fume-generating household activities (e.g., strong cleaning products, ironing, hair drying) for 24 hours before each session
- Able to avoid tobacco, marijuana, vaping, and alcohol use as specified in the study protocol
Key exclusion criteria (24 listed)
- Younger than 18 years old
- Pregnant or planning pregnancy during study participation
- Cigarettes
- E-cigarettes or vaping devices
- Marijuana
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Indoor Air Exposure (Control)Participants will be exposed to clean indoor air in a controlled exposure chamber with no cooking activity. This condition serves as the control session for within-subject comparisons. | Other | Control Condition (Clean Indoor Air) |
| Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and GasesParticipants will be exposed to cooking-generated ultrafine particles and associated gases in a controlled exposure chamber during standardized cooking activities. | Other | Cooking Emissions Exposure |
Primary outcome
Change in Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) Total Recall Score
Time frame: Measured at baseline and at approximately 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after session start on both study days
Cognitive performance related to verbal memory will be assessed using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R). The primary metric will be the change in HVLT-R Total Recall Score between exposure and control conditions, calculated from repeated assessments to evaluate short-term cognitive effects of ultrafine particle exposure.
Change in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)
Time frame: Measured at baseline and at approximately 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after session start on both study days
Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) will be measured using a handheld peak flow meter to assess short-term changes in lung function following exposure to cooking-generated ultrafine particles compared with the clean-air control day. Changes are evaluated within subjects using repeated measurements across both conditions.
Change in WAIS Symbol Search Raw Score
Time frame: Measured at baseline and at approximately 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after session start on both study days
Cognitive performance related to processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using the Symbol Search subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). The primary metric will be the change in WAIS Symbol Search raw score between exposure and control conditions, calculated from repeated assessments to evaluate short-term cognitive effects of ultrafine particle exposure.
6 secondary outcomes
Ultrafine Particle Number Size Distribution in particles/cm3
Time frame: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods.
Fine Particle Mass Concentrations (PM2.5) in microgram/cm3
Time frame: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
Total Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) concentration in ppm
Time frame: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
CO2 concentration in ppm
Time frame: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
CO concentration in ppm
Time frame: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
NO2 concentration in ppm
Time frame: Continuously measured average concentration with one minute intervals during each study session on control and exposure days, from session start to session end (approximately 5 hours per session), across both study periods
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because this study does not collect biospecimens and all data are used solely for the analyses specified in the protocol. Data are stored in coded form and are not intended for secondary research use. In addition, screening data for ineligible individuals are destroyed within 3 days, and no identifiable information is retained beyond what is required for regulatory documentation. Only aggregate, de-identified results may be shared with participants upon request, but individual-level datasets will not be made available to external researchers.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh, PhD principal investigator
University of Illinois Chicago
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exposure to Cooking-Generated Ultrafine Particles and Gases in people with Cognitive Function Decline and Air Pollution Exposure, run by University of Illinois Chicago at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 24 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh, PhD (8326077765, mehdiat@uic.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) Total Recall Score (time frame: Measured at baseline and at approximately 1, 2, 3, and 5 hours after session start on both study days). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Dec 2025.