Appalachian Mountaintop Mining Particulate Matter Induces Neoplastic Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Promotes Tumor Formation

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 48; no. 21; pp. 12912 - 12919
• Main Authors: Luanpitpong, Sudjit, Chen, Michael, Knuckles, Travis, Wen, Sijin, Luo, Juhua, Ellis, Emily, Hendryx, Michael, Rojanasakul, Yon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 04.11.2014
• Subjects: Air; Airborne particulates; Animals; Appalachian Region; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogens; Carcinogens - toxicity; Cell Line, Tumor - drug effects; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - chemically induced; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Cells; Coal Mining - methods; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Humans; Lung - cytology; Lung - drug effects; Lung Neoplasms - chemically induced; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, SCID; Mining; Molybdenum; Molybdenum - toxicity; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Pneumology; Risk assessment; Silicon Dioxide - toxicity; Toxicity Tests, Chronic - methods; Toxicology; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Appalachians; North America; America; Appalachian Region; Appalachia; Human; Lung disease; Proximity; Respiratory disease; Lung cancer; Malignant tumor; In vitro; Suspended particle; Particulate matter; Open pit mine; Malignant transformation; Bronchus disease; Epithelial cell; Air pollution; Tumor; Mining industry; Public health; Cancer
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es504263u

Epidemiological studies suggest that living near mountaintop coal mining (MTM) activities is one of the contributing factors for high lung cancer incidence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term carcinogenic potential of MTM particulate matter (PMMTM) exposure on human bronchial epithelial cells. Our results show that chronic exposure (3 months) to noncytotoxic, physiological relevant concentration (1 μg/mL) of PMMTM, but not control particle PMCON, induced neoplastic transformation, accelerated cell proliferation, and enhanced cell migration of the exposed lung cells. Xenograft transplantation of the PMMTM-exposed cells in mice caused no apparent tumor formation, but promoted tumor growth of human lung carcinoma H460 cells, suggesting the tumor-promoting effect of PMMTM. Chronic exposure to the main inorganic chemical constituent of PMMTM, molybdenum but not silica, similarly induced cell transformation and tumor promotion, suggesting the contribution of molybdenum, at least in part, in the PMMTM effects. These results provide new evidence for the carcinogenic potential of PMMTM and support further risk assessment and implementation of exposure control for PMMTM.