Biochemical and pathological effects of fly ash on lung, liver, and blood of rats

Subacute inhalation toxicity assessment of fly ash from industrial waste incinerators

Fly ash from industrial waste incinerators has been a significant concern because of their constituent toxic heavy metals and organic compounds. The objective of this study was to identify the subacute inhalation toxicity of fly ash from industrial waste incinerators, using whole body inhalation exposure chambers. Male and female groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to fly ash by inhalation of concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200 mg/m(3), for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. There was no significant difference in body weight, and relative organ weight to body weight, between the exposure groups and the control group. Hematological examinations revealed a significant increase of monocyte counts in fly ash exposed rats and brown pigment laden macrophage was found in the lungs of rats exposed to high concentration of fly ash. A decrease of blood glucose levels and an increase in glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase activity were observed in fly ash treated rats. There was also a significant increase of lactate dehydrogenase levels in rat blood exposed fly ash. A significant dose-dependent increase of DNA damage was found in lymphocytes, spleen, bronchoalveolar lavage, liver, lung, and thymus of rats exposed to fly ash. In addition, the level of lipid peroxidation was increased in the plasma of rats exposed to a high concentration of fly ash. These results suggest that inhalation of fly ash from industrial waste incinerators can induce histopathologic, hematological, and serum biochemical changes and oxidative damage.

Serum γ-glutamyltransferase activity as an indicator of chronic liver injury in cattle with no clinical signs

This study aimed to determine the power of the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferasase (GGT) activities and of the albumin and cholesterol dosages for detecting hepatic histopathological injuries. A total of 220 healthy male Nelore cattle that had been extensively bred were evaluated. Blood and liver samples were collected on the day of slaughter for biochemical and histopathological tests. The results showed that the sensitivity to AST, GGT, albumin, and cholesterol tests were respectively 22.4%, 22.4%, 36%, and 37.2%. The specificity of AST, GGT, albumin, and cholesterol tests was respectively 78.8%, 90.4%, 75.6%, and 68.3%. In short, the detection of minor liver injuries through biochemical tests is limited; however, the high specificity of the GGT allows its use as an indicator of hepatic chronic injuries in cattle herds.

Pathological and immunological effects of respirable coal fly ash in male Wistar rats

In this study the effects of inhalatory exposure to coal fly ash on lung pathology and the immune system in rats were examined. Rats were exposed to 0, 10, 30, or 100 mg/m(3) coal fly ash (6 h/day, 5 days/wk) for 4 wk, or to 0 and 100 mg/m(3) for 1 wk, and for 1 wk followed by a recovery in clean air of 3 wk. A concentration-related increase in lung weight was found starting from 30 mg/m(3) coal fly ash. After exposure to 100 mg/m(3), a time-related deposition of free particles in the lungs was observed as well as a time-related number of coal fly ash particles phagocytized in alveolar macrophages. Histological examination revealed increased cellularity in alveolar septa, consisting mainly of mononuclear cell infiltrate, proliferated type II cells, and a slight fibrotic reaction. After a recovery period of 3 wk the histological picture was identical to that after 1 wk of exposure, indicating no significant recovery. No toxicological significant changes were found in the hematological, clinical chemistry, or urine parameters. Effects both on nonspecific defense mechanisms and on specific immune responses were noted. With regard to the immune function in the draining lymph nodes of the lung, a significantly increased number of both T and B lymphocytes was observed. The ratio of both cell types was not changed in either of the groups. In serum of exposed rats a significant increase of up to 150% of the immunoglobulin A (IgA) content was found. The number and phagocytic capacity of macrophages were significantly increased, while the killing of Listeria bacteria per cell ex vivo/in vitro remained unchanged. Natural killer (NK) activity in pulmonary cell suspensions was slightly stimulated in rats exposed for 4 wk to 10 and 30 mg/m(3), whereas an exposure to 100 mg/m(3) resulted in a slight decrease; however, both changes were not significant. In conclusion, the alterations in lung histopathology and immunity, observed in a dose and exposure time relation at concentrations up to and including 100 mg/m(3) coal fly ash, may be considered an adverse response of the host to inhalation of particulate matter. Whether these observed alterations may effect the host resistance must be learned from infection studies.

Elevation of rat pulmonary, hepatic and lung surfactant lipids by fly ash inhalation

Fly ash contains many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and genotoxic trace elements. In rats, fly ash exposure profoundly affects lung and liver histology. In the present study, the effect of fly ash inhalation on lung and liver lipids of rats was examined. Male Wistar strain rats were exposed daily to fly ash (0.27 +/- 0.01 mg/L air) in an inhalation chamber, 6 hr daily over a period of 15 days, and were killed on various days, i.e. 16, 30, 60, and 120. Fly ash inhalation significantly (P less than 0.05) increased total phospholipids (PL), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in lungs. PC and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) contents in microsomes and lung surfactant also were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in rats exposed to fly ash compared to control group animals. Radiolabeled precursor incorporation studies indicated that fly ash induced the synthesis of PC and DPPC by both CDP-choline pathway and N-methylation of PE in lung microsomes and enhanced their secretion into lung surfactant. In liver, PC and PE contents were elevated significantly (P less than 0.05) by fly ash exposure on days 16 and 30 respectively. A similar elevation of PC was observed in hepatic microsomes; this increase was due to its increased synthesis. However, the increased synthesis of PC in liver occurred to a greater extent by the N-methylation pathway than by the CDP-choline pathway.

Placental transfer of metals of coal fly ash into various fetal organs of rat

Fly ash (100 mg/kg body weight) was administered intratracheally to 14-day pregnant rats for 6 consecutive days. On day 20 of gestation the translocation of metals present in the fly ash to various maternal and fetal organs was studied. Fly ash administration to pregnant mothers retarded the growth of fetal heart and kidney as determined by their weights. Fly ash instillation increased organ levels of nearly all the metals studied in both mother and fetus. Most of the metals present in coal fly ash were transferred in significant amounts through placenta to several fetal organs. However, the pattern of their distribution into various fetal organs was different for different metals.

Genotoxicity of coal fly ash, assessed in vitro in Salmonella typhimurium and human lymphocytes, and in vivo in an occupationally exposed population

Fly ash as a product of coal combustion is known to contain various mutagenic substances, but genotoxic properties, especially of the particular (larger-size) fly ash fraction which is electrostatically precipitated (ESP) in the energy plant, have hardly been investigated. While smaller-size fly ash particles escape through the stack during powder coal combustion, the ESP fraction is collected and used for the manufacturing, for instance according to the Lytag process, of secondary products which can serve several construction purposes. Since fly ash as well as fly ash products are generally introduced into the human environment, a study of possible genotoxic effects to human DNA is indicated. Mutagenic properties of ESP fly ash, as well as of the Lytag product, were investigated by means of the Salmonella microsome assay. The capacity to cause human chromosome damage of both ESP fly ash and Lytag dust was studied in vitro by application of the sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) test using human lymphocytes. Furthermore, effects of ESP fly ash/Lytag dust on the incidence of SCE in peripheral lymphocytes in vivo were measured in an occupationally exposed, male population, using individually matched employees from a flour-processing industry as the control population. It is demonstrated that ultrasonically treated DMSO extracts of ESP fly ash are slightly mutagenic to Salmonella tester strains TA97 and TA102. Lytag dust is effective in inducing reversions in all tester strains. Furthermore, it appeared that both compounds significantly increase the SCE frequency of human lymphocytes after incubation in vitro in comparison to non-exposed cells. Also, peripheral lymphocytes of the occupationally exposed population show a considerably higher incidence of SCE than the control population. Major disturbing factors in assessing the effects of occupational exposure to fly ash/Lytag dust on lymphocyte SCE frequency appeared to be smoking behavior and alcohol consumption. It is concluded that exposure to fly ash from powder coal combustion implies a moderate genotoxic risk to man.

Induction of pulmonary and hepatic cytochrome P-450 species by coal fly ash inhalation in rats

The effect of fly ash inhalation on xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and heme metabolism in lung and liver has been studied in rats. Fly ash inhalation induced pulmonary and hepatic cytochrome P-450 content, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione S-transferase activity. Induction of cytochrome P-450 was accompanied by induction of delta-amino levulinic acid synthetase in lung and inhibition of heme oxygenase in both lung and liver. Fly ash inhalation induced those species of cytochrome P-450 which closely resembled cytochrome P-448 in spectral properties and electrophoretic mobility.

Genotoxic effects of fly ash in bacteria, mammalian cells and animals

The increasing use of fossil fuels has raised concerns about possible deleterious health effects of the final combustion product, fly ash. Seven ash samples from coal sources obtained from Battelle Columbus Laboratories were evaluated in the Salmonella/mammalian microsome mutagenicity assay to determine their mutagenic potential. While dimethyl sulfoxide extracts of five samples showed no mutagenicity, sample 102 caused an increase in the number of revertants per plate over controls in TA100 and TA98 with activation by liver homogenate (2-fold and 2.4-fold, respectively), and without (2-fold and 6-fold). This ash was thus evaluated in whole animal studies. Animals treated by inhalation or oral gavage were assayed for the presence of mutagens in the urine, micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes, and chromosomal aberrations in metaphase bone marrow cells. Those animals treated by inhalation were also examined for local damage in the lung. The assay for mutagens in the urine was negative as shown by the Ames assay with TA100 and TA98 and there was no increase in micronuclei or in metaphase aberrations. Histological sections from the animals treated by inhalation did not show the presence of particles, macrophage infiltrations and generalized lung damage. We tested the same fly ash with an in vitro cell transformation assay with the cell line Balb/c 3T3 subclone A31-1-13. Although there was not an increase in Type III foci, there was a dose-dependent increase of Type II foci in the treated cells over the controls. In one assay, there was approximately a 14-fold increase in Type II foci in the highest dose (2 mg/ml) compared to the solvent control. One other ash sample induced cell transformation without being markedly cytotoxic, while a third sample was highly toxic but did not induce transformation.

Coal fly ash induces hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450 and sigma-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in rats

The effect of intratracheal administration of coal fly ash, its benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions has been studied on the levels of hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, and the activities of sigma-aminolevulinic acid synthetase and heme oxygenase. Fly ash and both its fractions significantly increased the levels of hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450. Benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions of coal fly ash significantly increased the levels of cytochrome b5 also in both lung and liver. Fly ash and both its fractions increased the activity of sigma-aminolevulinic acid synthetase and reduced the activity of heme oxygenase in lung and liver. Glass bead particles of similar size did not show any effect on hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5.

Hepatic microsomal phospholipids in rats exposed intratracheally to coal fly ash

The effects of intratracheal administration of fly ash (50 mg/kg body weight, daily for 7 days) on hepatic microsomal phospholipid metabolism has been studied in rats using various phospholipid precursors, viz NaH2(32)PO4, (methyl-14C)-choline, and (methyl-14C)-methionine. Fly ash administration significantly increased microsomal phosphatidylcholine (PC), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The incorporation of NaH2(32)PO4 into total liver phospholipids, PC and Phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) was significantly increased in fly ash-treated rats as compared to the control. Fly ash administration also increased the incorporation of (methyl-14C)-choline into microsomal PC. Incorporation of (methyl-14C)-methionine into microsomal PC was not affected. Fly ash administration decreased the per cent distribution of arachidonic acid in PC and PE and increased that of oleic acid in PC and of linoleic acid in PE.

Fetal translocation and metabolism of PAH obtained from coal fly ash given intratracheally to pregnant rats

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were extracted from coal fly ash collected from the electrostatic precipitator of a thermal power plant. The PAH extract was given intratracheally daily to pregnant rats (2 mg/100 g body weight) on d 18 and 19 of gestation. In addition on d 19 of gestation rats were also given [3H]benzo[a]pyrene intratracheally. Rats were sacrificed on d 20 of gestation, and the distribution of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene radioactivity and PAH of coal fly ash was studied in maternal lung, liver, and placenta, as well as in the liver and lung of the fetus. The radioactivity of intratracheally given benzo[a]pyrene was found in liver (68%), placenta (4%), fetal lung (1.9%), and fetal liver (1.4%) of maternal lung. Intratracheally administered PAH of coal fly ash were translocated to maternal liver and placenta, as well as to the liver and lung of the fetus. PAH of coal fly ash were also metabolized to several minor and major metabolites by maternal lung, liver, and placenta, as well as by the maternal fetal liver and lung. Some of the PAH metabolites in lung and liver were common; however, the major metabolite of liver, M-16, was different from the major metabolite M-16 of lung. The major PAH metabolite of placenta, M-5, and fetal liver, F-12, were common PAH metabolites. M-2 and M-6 of the placenta and F-5 and F-10 of the fetal lung were also common.

Phosphatidylcholine metabolism in lung microsomes and lung surfactant of rats exposed intratracheally to coal fly ash

The effect of intratracheal administration of fly ash has been studied on lung microsomal and lung surfactant phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism in rats using [methyl-14C]choline and [methyl-14C]methionine. Fly-ash administration significantly increased total phospholipids, PC, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) of lung surfactant. Fly-ash administration stimulated the formation of lung microsomal PC (as measured by the incorporation of labeled precursors) both by the cytidine 5'-diphosphate (CDP)-choline pathway and by the N-methylation pathway, but this stimulation was fourfold higher in the latter case and only twofold higher in the former as compared to the control. Likewise, the secretion of PC formed by the N-methylation pathway was sixfold higher as compared to the control whereas secretion of PC formed by the CDP-choline pathway was only threefold higher as compared to the control. Fly-ash administration further increased total saturation and decreased unsaturation in PC, PE, and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) of lung and in PC, PE, LPC, and PG of lung surfactant as compared to the controls.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of coal fly ash: analysis by gas-liquid chromatography using nematic liquid crystals

The seasonal variations over a period of 12 m in the amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in fly-ash samples collected from the electrostatic precipitator of a thermal power plant have been studied. PAH generally did not show much seasonal variation. The gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) analysis of benzene extract of fly ash showed the presence of 28 polyaromatic hydrocarbons, of which only phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[a]pyrene could be identified.

Effect of inhalation of coal fly ash on vitamin A distribution in organs of the rat

Fly ash contains several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The effect of inhalation of coal fly ash on vitamin A distribution in various organs of rat has been studied. Inhalation of fly ash for 6 h daily, for 15 d, decreased vitamin A content in liver. The absorption of orally given [3H]retinyl acetate was decreased and so was its localization in liver of rats inhaling coal fly ash.