How breathing arsenic-containing mine dust can cause lung scarring
Induction of fibrotic lung injury by inhalation exposure to arsenic and arsenic-containing mine tailings
Learning how breathing dust from mine tailings that contains arsenic and other metals can lead to lung scarring and long-term breathing problems for people near contaminated sites.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11375924 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses inhalation exposure models to track how arsenic and other metal(loid)s in mine dust move into and affect lung tissues. Researchers measure toxicokinetics (how the metals are absorbed and distributed) and look for signs of chronic lung injury and fibrosis, often using established animal models such as common rat strains. They will also test whether mixed exposures—like arsenic plus mold spores common near mine sites—worsen lung damage compared with single contaminants. The goal is to link specific dust components and exposure patterns to lung harm so communities and regulators can better prevent disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who live in or near mining-impacted communities with known arsenic contamination or who have chronic respiratory symptoms after dust exposure would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without environmental exposure to mine dust or whose lung problems are clearly caused by unrelated conditions (like genetic lung diseases) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help protect people living near contaminated mines by identifying harmful dust components and informing prevention, cleanup, and health screening strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior human epidemiology and animal studies have linked arsenic exposure to lung disease, but detailed inhalation toxicokinetics of mine tailings dust and combined effects with mold spores are less well studied and are a relatively novel focus here.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ding, Xinxin — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Ding, Xinxin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.