Human epithelial lung cell toxicity assessment of collected graphite particles from an iron casting industry (in vitro study)

ABSTRACT

Workers in the iron casting industries are exposed to various chemicals, especially graphite in furnace process. This study aims to investigate the toxic effects of graphite particles on human lung cells. Particle characteristics were confirmed by electron microscope and light scattering. Cell viability and oxidative stress markers were measured. The expression of oxidative repair genes, namely OGG1, MTH1, and ITPA, was evaluated. The average particle size was determined to be 172.1 ± 11.96 nm. The median inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of graphite particles was 46.75 µg/mL. Notably, 25 and 50 µg/mL concentrations resulted in significant GSH depletion and MDA production. The high concentration of graphite particles (200 µg/mL) led to OGG1 suppression and increased MTH1 expression. Based on these findings, graphite exposure may induce toxicity in human lung cells by increasing oxidative stress. Further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms underlying graphite toxicity.

KEYWORDS:

• Human epithelial lung cell
• Graphite
• Oxidative stress
• Repairing genes
• In vitro

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF, Project No. 99019793) and Neuroscience Research Center (NRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval

Procedure of present study was approved by the Committee on Research Ethics at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.PHNS.REC.1397.039).

Additional information

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Iran National Science Foundation (INSF, Project No. 99019793).