Transgenerational effects of traffic-related fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) on nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the toxic effects of fine particle matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on health of human. However, little information is available on PM2.5 ecotoxicity. We employed Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the adverse effects of traffic-related PM2.5 on exposed animals and their progeny. Acute exposure to high concentrations of PM2.5 in the range of mg/L caused adverse effects on development, lifespan, reproduction, and locomotion behavior of nematodes. In contrast, prolonged exposure to low concentrations of PM2.5 in the range of μg/L resulted in adverse effects on development, lifespan, reproduction, locomotion behavior, and intestinal development of nematodes. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 could even cause adverse effects on lifespan, reproduction, locomotion behavior, and intestinal development in progeny of exposed nematodes. PM2.5 toxicity was only partially recovered in progeny of exposed nematodes. For the PM2.5 toxicity on nematodes and their progeny, we hypothesize that it might be the combinational effects of oxidative stress, damage on intestinal barrier, and abnormal defecation behavior. Our data here imply the potential toxic effects of long-term exposure to traffic-related PM2.5 on environmental organisms. Our results further highlight the possible crucial roles of biological barrier and defecation behavior in regulating the PM2.5 toxicity.
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Yunli
Y
Zhao
Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environmental & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China.
Zhiqing
Z
Lin
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Ruhan
R
Jia
Beijing Research Center for Prevention Medicine, Beijing 100013, China.
Guojun
G
Li
Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environmental & Food Safety, Tianjin 300050, China. Electronic address: zhugexi2003@sina.com.
Zhuge
Z
Xi
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: dayongw@seu.edu.cn.
Dayong
D
Wang
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003672:Defecation; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
Caenorhabditis elegans; Ecotoxicity; PM(2.5); Traffic-related; Transgeneration