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Published on: July 26, 2016
[Experimental research on biological responses of productive dusts from pottery factories and tungsten mines]
Wen-Jin Su1, Lu Gan, Hai-Jiao Wang
1MOE Key Lab of Environmental and Health and Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. wchen@mails.tjmu.edu.cn
Objective:
To assess biological response and health adverse effects of industrial dusts from pottery factories and tungsten mines on alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro.
Methods:
AM acquired from bronchoalveolar lavage of guinea pigs were used as the target cells. AM were then co-cultured with respirable dust particles (15, 30, 60 and 120 μg/10⁶) from pottery factories and tungsten mines. LDH activity, cell viability, the release of ROS and TNF-α were determined to assess the biological responses of the dusts. China Standard Quartz was used as control.
Results:
Dose- response relationships between the dust concentrations and the enhancement of LDH activity, the release of ROS and TNF-α were found in both dusts from pottery factories and tungsten mines. The cell viability decreased when the dusts' concentrations increased. Differences of biological response were observed in the dust particles from different mines or factories. Compared with the pottery dusts, higher LDH activity and the release of TNF-α induced by tungsten dust were observed. In the 120 μg/10⁶ group, the TNF-α induced by tungsten dust, pottery dusts and China Standard Quartz was (5.2 +/- 2.0) ng/ml, (3.3 +/- 1.6) ng/ml and (2.8 +/- 0.5) ng/ml respectively. However, the impact on the cell viability induced by pottery dust was higher than that by tungsten mine.
Conclusion:
Industrial dusts from various sources could induce different biological effects. The results of the biological effects of dusts in laboratory tests may be of potential use to provide base data for their adverse effects evaluation.
Insights
Industrial dusts from pottery factories and tungsten mines induce varying biological responses in alveolar macrophages (AM). Tungsten dust elevated LDH and TNF-α more than pottery dust, but pottery dust impacted cell viability more significantly.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- In vitro cell studies
- Occupational health
Context:
- Industrial dust exposure poses risks to respiratory health.
- Alveolar macrophages (AM) are key immune cells in lung defense.
- Understanding dust-induced cellular responses is crucial for risk assessment.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the in vitro biological responses and adverse health effects of industrial dusts from pottery factories and tungsten mines on AM.
- To compare the differential effects of pottery and tungsten dusts on macrophage function.
Summary:
- Guinea pig AM were co-cultured with respirable pottery and tungsten dusts at varying concentrations.
- Assessed biological responses included lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) release.
- Both dust types exhibited dose-dependent increases in LDH, ROS, and TNF-α, and decreased cell viability.
Impact:
- Tungsten dust induced higher LDH activity and TNF-α release compared to pottery dust.
- Pottery dust showed a greater negative impact on AM cell viability.
- Findings highlight that dusts from different industrial sources elicit distinct biological effects, informing adverse effect evaluations.

