Processing of carbon-reinforced construction materials releases PM2.5 inducing inflammation and (secondary) genotoxicity in human lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts

Jana Pantzke; Arne Koch; Elias J Zimmermann; Narges Rastak; Svenja Offer; Christoph Bisig; Stefanie Bauer; Sebastian Oeder; Jürgen Orasche; Petra Fiala; Michael Stintz; Christopher P Rüger; Thorsten Streibel; Sebastiano Di Bucchianico; Ralf Zimmermann

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2023.104079

Processing of carbon-reinforced construction materials releases PM_2.5 inducing inflammation and (secondary) genotoxicity in human lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023 Mar:98:104079. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104079. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
² Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
³ Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Process Engineering, Technical University of Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
⁵ Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; Department Life, Light & Matter (LLM), University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany.
⁶ Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany. Electronic address: dibucchianico@helmholtz-muenchen.de.
⁷ Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany; Joint Mass Spectrometry Center, Comprehensive Molecular Analytics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Department Life, Light & Matter (LLM), University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany.

PMID: 36796551
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104079

Abstract

Building demolition following domestic fires or abrasive processing after thermal recycling can release particles harmful for the environment and human health. To mimic such situations, particles release during dry-cutting of construction materials was investigated. A reinforcement material consisting of carbon rods (CR), carbon concrete composite (C³) and thermally treated C³ (ttC³) were physicochemically and toxicologically analyzed in monocultured lung epithelial cells, and co-cultured lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts at the air-liquid interface. C³ particles reduced their diameter to WHO fibre dimensions during thermal treatment. Caused by physical properties or by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and bisphenol A found in the materials, especially the released particles of CR and ttC³ induced an acute inflammatory response and (secondary) DNA damage. Transcriptome analysis indicated that CR and ttC³ particles carried out their toxicity via different mechanisms. While ttC³ affected pro-fibrotic pathways, CR was mostly involved in DNA damage response and in pro-oncogenic signaling.

Keywords: Air-liquid interface; Bisphenol A; Carbon fibre toxicity; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Transcriptome.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Construction Materials
DNA Damage
Epithelial Cells
Fibroblasts
Humans
Inflammation / metabolism
Lung
Particle Size
Particulate Matter / analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis

Substances

Particulate Matter
Air Pollutants
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons