title: Particulate matters collected from ceramic factories in Lampang Province affecting rat lungs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer ranks as the fifth largest of all cancer cases in Thailand. However, it is the first leading cancer in the northern part of Thailand (data from 2003-2007). There are several predisposing causes that lead to lung cancer and one important inducement is particulate matters (PMs). Lampang Province in Thailand is famous for the ceramic industry, where there are over 200 ceramic industrial factories. PMs are produced during the ceramic manufacturing process and spread throughout all of the working areas. It is very possible that workers could directly inhale PM-contaminated air during working hours.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study focuses on the toxic effects of PMs collected from ceramic factories on genes and lungs of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  PMs collected from six ceramic factories in Lampang Province were extracted using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) were used to analyze the chemical elements at lower and higher concentrations, respectively. Then, the toxicity of PMs on the genes was examined by the Ames test, and subsequently, the effect of PMs on DNA was examined by quantifying the amount of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Finally, the toxicity of the PMs on rat's lungs was examined by histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As chemical elements of lower concentrations, cadmium, chromium, nickel, copper, and lead were detected by ICP-MS. As chemical elements of higher concentrations, manganese, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, and sodium were detected by ICP-OES. No mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium was found in the PM extracts from all six factories by utilizing the Ames test. In the histological study, the reduction in spaces of alveolar ducts and sacs, and terminal bronchioles, the thickening of interstitial connective tissues were noted by PM extracts in high amounts (100 and 350 µg). Female rats were more sensitive to PM extracts than males in terms of their pulmonary damages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PMs were not mutagenic to S. typhimurium but can damage the lung tissue of rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Services, Lampang Cancer Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Lampang 52000, Thailand; Department of Applied Chemistry and Centre for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Lampang Rajabhat University, Lampang 52100, Thailand; Department of Anatomy and Integrative Complementary Alternative Medicine (ICAM) Research and Development Group, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Duriya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fongmoon
authors.forename: Surathat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pongnikorn
authors.forename: Aphiruk
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaisena
authors.forename: Sitthichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iamsaard
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D011041:Poisoning; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter