Appalachian Mountaintop Mining Particulate Matter Induces Neoplastic Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Promotes Tumour Formation

Title	Appalachian Mountaintop Mining Particulate Matter Induces Neoplastic Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Promotes Tumour Formation
Authors	Sudjit Luanpitpong, Michael Chen, Travis Knuckles, Sijin Wen, Juhua Luo, Emily Ellis, Michael Hendryx, Yon Rojanasakul
Magazine	Environmental Science & Technology
Date	10/14/2014
DOI	10.1021/es504263u
Introduction	Epidemiological analyses indicate a correlation between proximity to mountaintop coal mining (MTM) operations and elevated rates of lung cancer. This investigation aimed to assess the long-term cancer-causing capability of particulate matter from MTM (PM MTM) when human bronchial epithelial cells are exposed. Our findings demonstrate that sustained exposure (over three months) to a noncytotoxic, physiologically pertinent concentration (1 μg/mL) of PM MTM led to neoplastic transformation, accelerated cellular proliferation, and increased migration in the affected lung cells, effects not observed with control particles (PM CON). While xenografting PM MTM-exposed cells into mice did not initiate tumour formation directly, it did encourage the growth of human lung carcinoma H460 cells, indicating a tumour-promoting influence of PM MTM. Furthermore, continuous exposure to molybdenum, a primary inorganic chemical component of PM MTM, similarly instigated cell transformation and tumour promotion, unlike silica. This suggests that molybdenum contributes significantly, at least in part, to the observed effects of PM MTM. These outcomes present novel evidence regarding the carcinogenic capacity of PM MTM and underscore the need for continued risk evaluation and implementation of measures to manage PM MTM exposure.
Quote	Sudjit Luanpitpong, Michael Chen and Travis Knuckles et al. Appalachian Mountaintop Mining Particulate Matter Induces Neoplastic Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Promotes Tumour Formation. Environmental Science & Technology. 2014. Vol. 48(21):12912-12919. DOI: 10.1021/es504263u
Element	Molybdenum (Mo) , Silicon (Si)
Topics	Biomedical Materials
Industry	Chemical & Pharmacy , Pharmaceutical Industry , Research & Laboratory