Dissecting contributions of representative heavy metal components in PM2.5 to its cytotoxicity.

ABSTRACT

PM2.5 is a complex pollutant that is a pervasive threat to human health. The health risks and toxicity mechanisms of PM2.5 components must be identified to alleviate the corresponding risks. In this study, a reductionism approach based on model PM2.5 particles was used to investigate the contributions of the most harmful components in PM2.5 to its toxicity. Human liver and kidney cells were used as models. The results showed that Cr(VI) was the most critical toxic component among other components (Pb, As, and benzo[a]pyrene) in human liver and kidney cells. PM2.5-Cr(VI) induced oxidative stress, which led to cytotoxicity by inducing cell cycle arrest in the S-phase in HepG2 and HEK293 cells. The presented findings can provide valuable insights into the toxicity levels of PM2.5 components, which can help clarify the potential health risks from PM2.5 exposure.