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

Ambient air pollution (AAP), as an important environmental health problem, affects everyone. A large body of literature links AAP, such as sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) and ozone (O(3)), 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, SO(2) (10 ppm), O(3) (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 SO(2) groups (p=0.004 and 0.003). Parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of the O(3) group was significantly higher than the AAP group (p=0.006). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), phosphorus, magnesium levels of the SO(2) group; Vit D, ALP, osteocalcin (OC), and PTH of O(3) 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 SO(2) group; OPG and calcium of O(3) 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 O(3) on PTH of the rats. In the concentrations and conditions of the study, we didn’t find any significant unwanted effects of AAP, SO(2), and O(3) on the bone biochemical parameters. More investigations with more concentrations and exposure time are recommended.