Addition of Calcite Reduces Iron’s Bioavailability in the Pennsylvania Coals – Potential Use of Calcite for the Prevention of Coal Workers’ Lung Diseases

Details

• Personal Author:
  Huang X ; Zhang Q
• Description:
  In the present study, a hypothesis was tested that the addition of calcite into the Pennsylvania coals may reduce levels of bioavailable iron (BAI), an important component in the mixed coal dust that may contribute to coal workers' lung diseases. Predetermined proportions of calcite (0, 1, 2, 5, 10% w/w) were added into three PA coals. After suspending the mixtures in an aqueous phosphate solution (10 mM, pH 4.5), which mimics the phagolysosomal conditions of the cells, levels of pH as well as calcium ions (Ca2+) in the coals were increased in a calcite concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, levels of BAI (both Fe2+ and Fe3+) were decreased. The inhibitory effects of calcite on the bioavailability of iron in human lung epithelial A549 cells and primary rat alveolar macrophages (AMs) were also examined. It was found that levels of low-molecular-weight (LMW) iron were significantly decreased in both A549 cells and AMs treated with the 10% calcite-PA coal mixture compared to those treated with the PA coal alone, while calcite itself had no effect on intracellular LMW iron. Calcite also showed a significant inhibitory effect on PA coal-induced ferritin synthesis in A549 cells. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies revealed that the iron-containing PA coal downregulated levels of transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA in A549 cells, which was partially restored by the addition of calcite. Our results indicate that calcite can inhibit the bioavailability of iron in the iron-containing PA coals. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Coal Coal Mining Dust Ferrous Compounds Laboratories Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Animal-studies Coal-dust Coal-miners Coal-mining Coal-workers Diseases Iron-compounds Laboratory-animals Lung-disease Occupational-diseases Occupational-exposure Pneumoconiosis Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders

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• ISSN:
  1528-7394
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  19
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20029073
• Citation:
  J Toxicol Environ Health A 2005 Oct; 68(19):1663-1679
• CAS Registry Number:
  Calcium carbonate (CAS RN 471-34-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  New York University Medical Center, New York, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19990930
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues
• End Date:
  20030929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a6e6c3e8267b624860da88fdd244739b772eb5f95cc04c6f10d694220732cacbfb7fdeaf031ecd6550f730c5ccb2f4418c63ee0e6d3a474b744fcab898747074
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/190140/cdc_190140_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 370.71 KB ]