Project description:Determination of the complete genome of European mountain ash ringspot-associated emaravirus from Sorbus intermedia reveals two additional genome segments
Project description:Coal-fired power plant is a major method of electricity generation worldwide with serious concerns relating to air pollution. In recent years, fly ash from coal-fired power plants has become a major target of pollution control by worldwide regulatory agencies. In this present study, fly ash particulate matter (PM) obtained from the electrostatic precipitator of Mae Moh Coal-fired Power Plant (Lampang, Thailand) was selected as a model for determination of physicochemical characteristics and toxicological profiles in mice. The average size of the fly ash PM was 4.29 ± 1.85 µm as determined by electron microscopy. Major heavy metal was iron at 101,067.31 ± 8,246.12 mg/kg as detected by ICPMS. Acenaphthene was the most abundant polyaromatic hydrocarbon at 40.77 ± 0.003 mg/kg as analyzed by GCMS. The toxicological profiles of the characterized fly ash PM were conducted in Balb/c mice by intratracheal instillation at 1 and 10 mg/kg/day for 7 days, compared to vehicle as negative control and standard PM 2.5 as positive control. The fly ash PM and the standard PM induced significant pulmonary inflammation in mice lungs compared to vehicle control. In addition, molecular toxicology of mice lungs investigated by proteomics demonstrated 3 inflammation associated pathways, which include leukocyte transendothelial migration, phagosome, and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Furthermore, only high dose (10 mg/kg/day) standard PM and high dose fly ash PM showed high expression of NCF2, which potentially promotes cancer in the long run. This study is the first to report on the physicochemical characterization, histopathology, and proteomic-associated toxicological profiles of the fly ash PM obtained from the largest coal-fired power plant in Thailand. Information obtained from this study is useful for academic researchers, electricity enterprises, and policymakers to develop appropriate strategies to manage air pollution from coal-fired power plants worldwide.
