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Geochemical characterization and renal cell toxicity of water-soluble extracts from U.S. Gulf Coast lignite

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Abstract

An assortment of organic material can leach from lignite (low-rank coal) in water, and the water-soluble fraction from lignite has been associated with adverse health effects in areas of the Balkans. Recent efforts have been made to evaluate this hypothesis in other areas where lignite is in contact with groundwater like in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. In this study, five Gulf Coast lignite samples were extracted with water, and the water-soluble portion of the coal was then characterized by total organic carbon, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Additionally, human kidney cells (HK-2) were exposed to water-soluble extracts of Gulf Coast lignite to assess toxicity. Cell viability was measured, and a dose–response curve was used to generate IC50 values that ranged from 490 to 3000 ppm. The most toxic extract (Dolet Hills) was from Louisiana where lignite-derived organic material has been previously linked to high incidence of renal pelvic cancer. Concentrations of nephrotoxic metals (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Pb, V, Zn) were screened and were below those considered toxic to renal cells. We conclude that leachates from lignite do indeed have toxic affects on cultured human renal cells. Although the IC50 values are higher than the concentration of organic matter in the local groundwater, typically < 5 ppm, the effects of long-term low-level exposure is not known.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded partially by the University of Oklahoma and the Graduate Student Fellowship from the Geological Society of America. Sample collection was done with the assistance of the Arkansas Geological Survey and the United States Geological Survey. Dr. Crossley at the University of Oklahoma, Department of Chemical Engineering, performed elemental analysis. UV–Vis analysis was done with the assistance of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma. The in vitro experiments were performed in collaboration with Drs. Randle Gallucci, Michael Ihnat, and Lerin Chastain at the OU Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Sterling Ford, a contributor to this research, was supported by the OUHSC Graduate College Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program.

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  1. Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    A. S. Ojeda & R. P. Philp

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA

    S. D. Ford, R. M. Gallucci & M. A. Ihnat

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Ojeda, A.S., Ford, S.D., Gallucci, R.M. et al. Geochemical characterization and renal cell toxicity of water-soluble extracts from U.S. Gulf Coast lignite. Environ Geochem Health 41, 1037–1053 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0196-7

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