Environ Anal Health Toxicol.  2020 Dec;35(4):e2020023. 10.5620/eaht.2020023.

Effects of sulfur dioxide, ozone, and ambient air pollution on bone metabolism related biochemical parameters in a rat model

• Kheirouri S
• Alizadeh M
• Abad RMS
• Barkabi-Zanjani S
• Mesgari-Abbasi M

• KMID: 2511326
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5620/eaht.2020023

Abstract

Ambient air pollution (AAP), as an important environmental health problem, affects everyone. A large body of literature links AAP, such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone (O₃), with a wide range of non-communicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the pollutants on the bone metabolism biochemical parameters in a rat model. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided to four groups: control, SO₂ (10 ppm), O₃ (0.6 ppm), and AAP groups. After 5 weeks of exposure (3 hours/day, 6 days/week), blood samples were taken, and biochemical parameters were assayed. Vitamin D level of the AAP group was higher than the control and SO₂ groups (p=0.004 and 0.003). Parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of the O₃ group was significantly higher than the AAP group (p=0.006). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), phosphorus, magnesium levels of the SO₂ group; Vit D, ALP, osteocalcin (OC), and PTH of O₃ group; and OC and osteoprotegerin (OPG) of AAP group were higher than those of control group but differences were not significant. Calcium level of the SO₂ group; OPG and calcium of O₃ group; and PTH of AAP group were less than those of control group but differences were not significant (p>0.05). The results showed significant effect of AAP with natural daylight on vitamin D and also O₃ on PTH of the rats. In the concentrations and conditions of the study, we didn't find any significant unwanted effects of AAP, SO₂, and O₃ on the bone biochemical parameters. More investigations with more concentrations and exposure time are recommended.

Keyword

Air pollution; bone; ozone; rats; sulfur dioxide; Vitamin D