Major toxin composition of particulate matter from a coal-fired power plant and its proteomics-associated toxicological profiles in the lungs of balb/c mice

Abstract

This comprehensive study investigated fly ash particulate matter (PM) from Thailand's Mae Moh Coal-fired Power Plant, focusing on its major toxin composition and toxicological effects in mice. Chemical composition analysis using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry identified iron (Fe) as the predominant heavy metal (101,067.31 ± 8246.12 mg/kg). Meanwhile, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed acenaphthene as the most abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (40.77 ± 0.003 mg/kg). Toxicological profiling was conducted on Balb/c mice via intratracheal instillation at doses of 1 and 10 mg/kg/day for 7 days, with comparisons made to a vehicle negative control and standard PM2.5 as a positive control. Both fly ash PM and standard PM2.5 induced pulmonary inflammation, evidenced by the presence of neutrophils in peribronchial and perivascular areas. Dose-dependent increases in interstitial edema and alveolar macrophages were also observed. Proteomic analysis revealed three inflammation-associated pathways, including leukocyte transendothelial migration, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and phagosome activity. The increase in pulmonary inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases and promotion of lung cancer. These findings provide valuable insights for academic researchers, electricity enterprises, and policymakers in developing effective strategies to manage air pollution worldwide.