Health effects following subacute exposure to geogenic dust collected from active drainage surfaces (Nellis Dunes Recreation Area, Las Vegas, NV)

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Nevada desert dust with heavy metals suppresses IgM antibody production

“…Such antigens require an appropriate response from both B cells, which secrete the antibody, and T cells, which ‘help’ the B cells. IgM levels were consistently and dose-responsively suppressed after exposure to each of the NDRA units in this study as well as previously published units [ [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] ]. These immune effects demonstrated from the complex mixture of metals are consistent with ‘arsenic only’ exposure studies that demonstrate a decrease in IgM humoral immune responses [ [37] , [38] , [42] , [43] , [44] ].…”

“…It might be considered that this excess iron from the exposure presented a possible compensatory factor to drive hemoglobin synthesis by increased ferritin cellular stores or increased saturation of transferrin. In the NDRA, CBN 5 and dust from drainage sediments that were analyzed in a previous study [ 19 ] were the only two sediment types that showed any effect on red blood cell physiology and it should be noted that they contained the highest levels of lead compared to all other NDRA geogenic dust samples.…”

“…Due to the high visitor rate and known health risks associated with particulate matter exposure, toxicological effects of these naturally derived geogenic dusts were examined in a mouse model. This study presents three of seven defined geomorphic units in the NDRA established on common surface features; the other units have been previously characterized in Keil et al [ [16] , [17] ], DeWitt et al [ [18] , [19] ], and Leetham et al [ 20 ].…”

CNS-Related Effects Caused by Vanadium at Realistic Exposure Levels in Humans: A Comprehensive Overview Supplemented with Selected Animal Studies

“…In turn, a reduced concentration of IgM antibodies against myelin basic protein (MBP) was found by DeWitt et al [122] in mice exposed to geogenic dust from arsenic-rich sediment (including vanadium) at NDRA. IgM antibodies against MBP were also reduced in mice exposed to geogenic dust (including vanadium) collected from active drainage surfaces (NDRA) [123]. Finally, studies of the levels of vanadium in some internal organs of rodents (in an inhalation model) conducted by Sánchez et al [114] revealed elevated concentrations of this metal in the brain of mice.…”

“…Summary of neurotoxic effects of vanadium after inhalation: studies in laboratory animals and those naturally exposed to urban air. Elaborated on the basis of the available literature data[112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126]. Ab: antibody, AG-rats: African giant rats, AP site: apurinic/apyrimidinic site, CNS: central nervous system, DA: dopamine, GFAP: glial fibrillary acidic protein; IgM; immunoglobulin M, iNOS: inducible nitric oxide synthase, MBP: myelin basic protein, MMPs: matrix metalloproteinases, NF-kB: nuclear factor kappa B, NF68: neurofilament 68 protein; TH: tyrosine hydroxylase, V: vanadium.…”