Oxidative stress and cytokine expression in respiratory epithelial cells exposed to well-characterized aerosols from Kabul, Afghanistan

► A liquid sampling method was utilized in collecting ambient PM. ► Chemical and biological characteristics of the PM were compared. ► The biological response was analyzed in lung epithelial cells. ► PM from Kabul induced inflammation due to its unique properties. ► PM from Kabul, induced a higher oxidative response compared PM from Sweden.