Associations of soluble metals and lung and liver toxicity in mice induced by fine particulate matter originating from a petrochemical complex

Adverse health effects have been observed in nearby residents due to exposure to petrochemical-derived chemicals. The objective of this study was to examine associations of soluble metals with lung and liver toxicity in fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex. PM₂.₅ was collected in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex of Mailiao Township (Yunlin County, Taiwan) to investigate lung and liver toxicity in BALB/c mice. The PM₂.₅ concentration was 30.2 ± 11.2 μg/m³, and the PM₂.₅ was clustered in major local emissions (19.1 μg/m³) and minor local emissions (14.1 μg/m³) using a k-means clustering model. The PM₂.₅ (50 and 150 μg/kg) and PM₂.₅-equivalent soluble nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and lead (Pb) concentrations were intratracheally instilled into BALB/c mice. PM₂.₅ and V significantly decreased the tidal volume after exposure (p < 0.05). The peak expiratory flow (PEF) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF)/PEF ratio were significantly altered by 150 μg/kg V (p < 0.05). V and Pb significantly increased total protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (p < 0.05). Interleukin (IL)-6 in BALF significantly increased after exposure to Pb (p < 0.05) accompanied by lung inflammatory infiltration. PM₂.₅ and Pb significantly increased levels of 8-isoprostane (p < 0.05). The level of caspase-3 activity significantly increased after exposure to Pb (p < 0.05). LDH in the liver was significantly increased by PM₂.₅ (p < 0.05). 8-Isoprostane in the liver was significantly increased by PM₂.₅ and Pb (p < 0.05). IL-6 in the liver was significantly increased by PM₂.₅, Ni, V, and Pb after exposure (p < 0.05), accompanied by liver inflammatory infiltration. Our results demonstrated that V in PM₂.₅ was associated with an increase in 8-isoprostane for all emissions and major local petrochemical emissions. In conclusion, V contributes to in vivo liver toxicity induced by PM₂.₅ in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex.