title: Real-Time Cell-Electronic Sensing of Coal Fly Ash Particulate Matter for Toxicity-Based Air Quality Monitoring.
abstract: The development of a unique bioassay for cytotoxicity analysis of coal fly ash (CFA) particulate matter (PM) and its potential application for air quality monitoring is described. Using human cell lines, A549 and SK-MES-1, as live probes on microelectrode-embedded 96-well sensors, impedance changes over time are measured as cells are treated with varying concentrations (1 μg/mL-20 mg/mL) of CFA samples. A dose-dependent impedance change is determined for each CFA sample, from which an IC50 histogram is obtained. The assay was successfully applied to examine CFA samples collected from three coal-fired power plants (CFPs) in China. The samples were separated into three size fractions: PM2.5 (<2.5 μm), PM10-2.5 (2.5 μm < x < 10 μm), and PM10 (>10 μm). Dynamic cell-response profiles and temporal IC50 histograms of all samples show that CFA cytotoxicity depends on concentration, exposure time (0-60 h), and cell-type (SK-MES-1 > A549). The IC50 values differentiate the cytotoxicity of CFA samples based on size fraction (PM2.5 ≈ PM10-2.5 ≫ PM10) and the sampling location (CFP2 > CFP1 ≈ CFP3). Differential cytotoxicity measurements of particulates in human cell lines using cell-electronic sensing provide a useful tool for toxicity-based air quality monitoring and risk assessment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical & Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3.|Alberta Centre for Toxicology, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary , Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1.
authors.forename: Birget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, North China Electric Power University , Baoding, Hebei Province 071003, China.
authors.forename: Chungang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical & Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3.
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical & Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3.|Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, Jilin Province 130021, China.
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical & Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabos
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical & Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3.
authors.forename: X Chris
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical & Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3.
authors.forename: Xing-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D060729:Coal Ash / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D060729:Coal Ash; D052638:Particulate Matter