The effect of toxic components on metabolomic response of male SD rats exposed to fine particulate matter.

PM pollution was associated with numerous adverse health effects. However, PM induced toxic effects and the relationships with toxic components remain largely unknown. To evaluate the metabolic toxicity of PM at environmentally relevant doses, investigate the seasonal variation of PM induced toxicity and the relationship with toxic components, a combination of general pathophysiological tests and metabolomics analysis was conducted in this study to explore the response of SD rats to PM exposure. The result of general toxicology analysis revealed unconspicuous toxicity of PM under environmental dose, but winter PM at high dose caused severe histopathological damage to lung. Metabolomic analysis highlighted significant metabolic disorder induced by PM even at environmentally relevant doses. Lipid metabolism and GSH metabolism were primarily influenced by PM exposure due to the high levels of heavy metals. In addition, high levels of organic compounds such as PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in winter PM bring multiple overlaps on the toxic pathways, resulting in larger pulmonary toxicity and metabolic toxicity in rats than summer.