Effects of Dust Pollution in Asaluyeh on Atomic Absorption of Heavy Metals and Histopathologic Changes in Spleen and Bone Marrow of Male Rats

The effects of air pollution from industrial advances and mechanization on people, specifically children whose immune and respiratory systems are not fully developed, have attracted growing attention from researchers. Given that the oil and gas facilities in Asaluyeh have turned it into one of the most polluted regions in the world, this study aimed at investigating the effect of airborne dust particles (ADPs) on the atomic absorption of heavy metals and histopathologic changes in spleen and bone marrow of male rats. In this study, 30 adult male rats were assigned to the control, negative control, and treatment groups. After the course of treatment, the changes in spleen and bone marrow tissue, as well as atomic absorption of metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic) in their serums were examined. The atomic absorption of metals in the serum of the treatment group significantly increased as compared to the control group; in addition, the significant histopathologic changes were observed only in the spleen tissues. Dust of polluted air of Asaluyeh had relative toxic effects on spleen tissue and serum but did not have toxic effects on bone marrow.