Investigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution 

Abstract Exposure to particulate matter (PM) can be considered as a factor affecting human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of PM2.5 and heavy metals and their influence on survival of A549 human lung cells in exposure to PM2.5 breathing air of Ahvaz city. In order...

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Main Authors: Babak Goodarzi, Maryam Azimi Mohammadabadi, Ahmad Jonidi Jafari, Mitra Gholami, Majid Kermani, Mohammad-Ali Assarehzadegan, Abbas Shahsavani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-10-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45052-z
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author Babak Goodarzi
Maryam Azimi Mohammadabadi
Ahmad Jonidi Jafari
Mitra Gholami
Majid Kermani
Mohammad-Ali Assarehzadegan
Abbas Shahsavani
author_facet Babak Goodarzi
Maryam Azimi Mohammadabadi
Ahmad Jonidi Jafari
Mitra Gholami
Majid Kermani
Mohammad-Ali Assarehzadegan
Abbas Shahsavani
author_sort Babak Goodarzi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Exposure to particulate matter (PM) can be considered as a factor affecting human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of PM2.5 and heavy metals and their influence on survival of A549 human lung cells in exposure to PM2.5 breathing air of Ahvaz city. In order to assess the levels of PM2.5 and heavy metals, air samples were collected from 14 sampling stations positioned across Ahvaz city during both winter and summer seasons. The concentration of heavy metals was determined using ICP OES. Next, the MTT assay [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] was employed to ascertain the survival rate of A549 cells. The findings from this research demonstrated that average PM2.5 of the study period was (149.5 μg/m3). Also, the average concentration of PM2.5 in the urban area in winter and summer was (153.3- and 106.9 μg/m3) and in the industrial area this parameter was (191.6 and 158.3 μg/m3). The average concentration of metals (ng/m3) of urban areas against industrial, Al (493 vs. 485), Fe (536 vs. 612), Cu (198 vs. 212), Ni (128 vs. 129), Cr (48.5 vs. 54), Cd (118 vs. 124), Mn (120 vs. 119), As (51 vs. 67), Hg (37 vs. 50), Zn (302 vs. 332) and Pb (266 vs. 351) were obtained. The results of the MTT assay showed that the highest percentage of cell survival according to the exposure concentration was 25 > 50 > 100 > 200. Also, the lowest percentage of survival (58.8%) was observed in the winter season and in industrial areas with a concentration of 200 μg/ml. The carcinogenic risk assessment of heavy metals indicated that except for Cr, whose carcinogenicity was 1.32E−03, other metals were in the safe range (10–4–10–6) for human health. The high concentration of PM2.5 and heavy metals can increase respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and reduce the public health level of Ahvaz citizens.
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spelling doaj.art-34b05226406b47039655b169e1f5b4f22023-11-26T12:52:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-10-0113111110.1038/s41598-023-45052-zInvestigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution Babak Goodarzi0Maryam Azimi Mohammadabadi1Ahmad Jonidi Jafari2Mitra Gholami3Majid Kermani4Mohammad-Ali Assarehzadegan5Abbas Shahsavani6Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical SciencesImmunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS)Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical SciencesImmunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS)Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Exposure to particulate matter (PM) can be considered as a factor affecting human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of PM2.5 and heavy metals and their influence on survival of A549 human lung cells in exposure to PM2.5 breathing air of Ahvaz city. In order to assess the levels of PM2.5 and heavy metals, air samples were collected from 14 sampling stations positioned across Ahvaz city during both winter and summer seasons. The concentration of heavy metals was determined using ICP OES. Next, the MTT assay [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] was employed to ascertain the survival rate of A549 cells. The findings from this research demonstrated that average PM2.5 of the study period was (149.5 μg/m3). Also, the average concentration of PM2.5 in the urban area in winter and summer was (153.3- and 106.9 μg/m3) and in the industrial area this parameter was (191.6 and 158.3 μg/m3). The average concentration of metals (ng/m3) of urban areas against industrial, Al (493 vs. 485), Fe (536 vs. 612), Cu (198 vs. 212), Ni (128 vs. 129), Cr (48.5 vs. 54), Cd (118 vs. 124), Mn (120 vs. 119), As (51 vs. 67), Hg (37 vs. 50), Zn (302 vs. 332) and Pb (266 vs. 351) were obtained. The results of the MTT assay showed that the highest percentage of cell survival according to the exposure concentration was 25 > 50 > 100 > 200. Also, the lowest percentage of survival (58.8%) was observed in the winter season and in industrial areas with a concentration of 200 μg/ml. The carcinogenic risk assessment of heavy metals indicated that except for Cr, whose carcinogenicity was 1.32E−03, other metals were in the safe range (10–4–10–6) for human health. The high concentration of PM2.5 and heavy metals can increase respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and reduce the public health level of Ahvaz citizens.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45052-z
spellingShingle Babak Goodarzi
Maryam Azimi Mohammadabadi
Ahmad Jonidi Jafari
Mitra Gholami
Majid Kermani
Mohammad-Ali Assarehzadegan
Abbas Shahsavani
Investigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution 
Scientific Reports
title Investigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution 
title_full Investigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution 
title_fullStr Investigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution 
title_full_unstemmed Investigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution 
title_short Investigating PM2.5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the Middle East: human health risk assessment and spatial distribution 
title_sort investigating pm2 5 toxicity in highly polluted urban and industrial areas in the middle east human health risk assessment and spatial distribution
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45052-z
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