Assessment of geographical variation in the respiratory toxicity of desert dust particles. (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taylor, Karen; Foster, Melanie L.; Law, J. McHugh; Centeno, Jose A.; Fornero, Elisa; Henderson, M. Stephen; Trager, Sabrina A.; Stockelman, Michael G.; Dorman, David C.
• Is Part Of: Inhalation toxicology. Volume 25:Number 7(2013)
• Page Start: 405
• Page End: 416
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Pulmonary toxicology -- Animal models -- Periodicals; Pulmonary toxicology -- Periodicals; Air -- Pollution -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 616.200471
• DOI: 10.3109/08958378.2013.797524
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-8378

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The health consequences of sand particle inhalation are incompletely understood. This project evaluated the respiratory toxicity of sand particles collected at military bases near Fort Irwin USA, in Iraq (Camp Victory, Taji and Talil), and Khost Afghanistan. Our primary focus was on assessing the role of soluble metals in the respiratory toxicity of the sand particles using <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic> methods. Replicating rat type II alveolar cell cultures (RLE-6TN) were exposed to sand extracts or vehicle control in serum-free media for ≤24 h. Cytotoxicity was determined using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and assessment of lactate dehydrogenase leakage. The relative <italic>in vitro</italic> cytotoxicity of the sand extracts was Taji ≈ Talil > Afghanistan > Camp Victory ≈ Fort Irwin. We also assessed extracts of Camp Victory, Afghanistan, and Taji sand for acute and delayed pulmonary toxicity in rats following intratracheal administration. Assessments included biochemical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung histopathology. The <italic>in vitro</italic> cytotoxicity assay results were partially predictive of <italic>in vivo</italic> responses. The more cytotoxic Taji sand extract induced an acute irritant response in rats following intratracheal administration. Rats given the less cytotoxic Camp Victory sand extract had minimal biochemical or cytological BALF changes whereas rats given either the Afghanistan or Taji sand extracts demonstrated BALF changes that were suggestive of mild lung inflammation. Unexpectedly, we observed similar lung pathology in all extract-exposed rats. The results of our study can be used to prioritize future particle inhalation studies or guide epidemiological study design.</p> </abstract>