title: In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of a West Virginia chemical spill mixture involving 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol and propylene glycol phenyl ether.
abstract: Thousands of gallons of industrial chemicals, crude 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) and propylene glycol phenyl ether (PPh), leaked from industrial tanks into the Elk River in Charleston, West Virginia, USA, on January 9, 2014. A considerable number of people were reported to exhibit symptoms of chemical exposure and an estimated 300,000 residents were advised not to use or drink tap water. At the time of the spill, the existing toxicological data of the chemicals were limited for a full evaluation of the health risks, resulting in concern among those in the impacted regions. In this preliminary study, we assessed cell viability and plasma membrane degradation following a 24-h exposure to varying concentrations (0-1000 μM) of the two compounds, alone and in combination. Evaluation of different cell lines, HEK-293 (kidney), HepG2 (liver), H9c2 (heart), and GT1-7 (brain), provided insight regarding altered cellular responses in varying organ systems. Single exposure to MCHM or PPh did not affect cell viability, except at doses much higher than the estimated exposure levels. Certain co-exposures significantly reduced metabolic activity and increased plasma membrane degradation in GT1-7, HepG2, and H9c2 cells. These findings highlight the importance of examining co-exposures to fully understand the potential toxic effects.
authors.affiliation: C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Alice A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.|Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Fabyanic
authors.affiliation: C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.|Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Julie V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Maren S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Prediger
authors.affiliation: C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.affiliation: C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mouch
authors.affiliation: C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA. Jonathan.Boyd@mail.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000633:toxicity*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000633:toxicity*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014903:West Virginia
chemical_list: D003510:Cyclohexanes; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C000607184:4-methylcyclohexanemethanol; C031538:phenyl ether
keywords: 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol; Chemical spill; Co-exposures; Cytotoxicity; Propylene glycol phenyl ether