Effect of PM2.5 in ambient air of the nickel contaminated area on inflammatory factors in serum of rats.

Objective To investigate and compare the effects of PM2.5 in ambient air samples collected from nickel and nonickel contaminated areas on inflammatory factors in the serum of rats.Methods The air PM2.5 of the nickel-contaminated area and the control area were collected and detected for some major elements.Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups,6 in each,which were respectively instilled with saline,suspended PM2.5 fluid of the nickel-contaminated area and the control area of 3 different doses(1.6,8.0,40.0 mg/kg) through the trachea.The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after being treated with PM2.5.The levels of IL-6,CRP in serum were examined.Results There was no significant difference in the level of PM2.5 between the two areas,the concentration of Ni in the nickel-polluted area was 48.75 times as that in the non-polluted area.A good dose-dependent manner was found in the test of IL-6 in nickel-contaminated groups.CRP was found significantly higher in the nickel-contaminated group and the control group than the saline control group(P0.05).Among the groups of the nickel-contaminated area and the control area,significant differences were found in high dose groups(P0.01).Conclusion PM2.5 can cause obvious inflammation in rats.Maybe for the different concentration of nickel,the significant difference of IL-6 and CRP levels in serum induced by PM2.5 between the nickel-polluted area and the non-polluted area is seen.