Subacute inhalation toxicity assessment of fly ash from industrial waste incinerators

Abstract

Fly ash from industrial waste incinerators has been a significant concern because of their constituent toxic heavy metals and organic compounds. The objective of this study was to identify the subacute inhalation toxicity of fly ash from industrial waste incinerators, using whole body inhalation exposure chambers. Male and female groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to fly ash by inhalation of concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200 mg/m(3), for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. There was no significant difference in body weight, and relative organ weight to body weight, between the exposure groups and the control group. Hematological examinations revealed a significant increase of monocyte counts in fly ash exposed rats and brown pigment laden macrophage was found in the lungs of rats exposed to high concentration of fly ash. A decrease of blood glucose levels and an increase in glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase activity were observed in fly ash treated rats. There was also a significant increase of lactate dehydrogenase levels in rat blood exposed fly ash. A significant dose-dependent increase of DNA damage was found in lymphocytes, spleen, bronchoalveolar lavage, liver, lung, and thymus of rats exposed to fly ash. In addition, the level of lipid peroxidation was increased in the plasma of rats exposed to a high concentration of fly ash. These results suggest that inhalation of fly ash from industrial waste incinerators can induce histopathologic, hematological, and serum biochemical changes and oxidative damage.

Hematological, cholesterolemic and clinical profile in exposed to outdoor air pollution linked to the incineration of biomedical waste in Benin

“…We observed that the exposed population had slightly higher monocyte values than the controls, but also generally lower monocyte values (monocytopenia). An experimental study on rats exposed to fly ash from incinerators also showed a significant increase in monocyte counts in these rats [39]. In addition, a community-based study in China on outdoor air pollution and white blood cells revealed that the value of monocytes might be a function of the chemical nature of the particles [40].…”

Immobilization and volume reduction of heavy metals in municipal solid waste fly ash using nano-size calcium and iron-dispersed reagent

“…The small respirable particles of fly ash are easily inhaled to the lungs, where the harmful condensed phases are extracted by body fluids and thereby pose a health hazard (Lauf, 1985;Nakane, 2012;Shim et al, 2012). At disposal in landfills and ash ponds, once exposed to moisture, leaching from the ash will occur and provide a pathway for toxic compounds to reach groundwater supplies (Jianguo and Wei, 1998;Jianguo et al, 2004).…”