Coal Industry Airborne Particulate Matter Damages Tear Film Function in Rats

Research published in Open Life Sciences has found that exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) from the coal industry can cause damage to tear film function and increase the expression of inflammatory factors in Sprague-Dawley rats. The study, conducted by researchers from China University of Mining and Technology, aimed to investigate the effects of coal industry-related airborne PM on ocular surface tear film injury and inflammatory factor expression. The results showed that rats exposed to coal industry airborne PM had significantly reduced tear secretion, longer tear-film breakup time, and increased conjunctival congestion compared to the control group.

Key Takeaways:

• The study involved 10 male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into two groups: the treatment group exposed to coal industry airborne PM and the normal control group.
• The treatment group showed significantly reduced tear secretion (2.64 ± 0.57 mm vs 5.42 ± 0.28 mm) and longer tear-film breakup time (4.23 ± 0.47 s vs 6.15 ± 0.36 s) compared to the control group.
• The exposure to coal industry airborne PM also increased the relative expression levels of tear inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α.
• The study's findings suggest that coal industry airborne PM can cause damage to tear film function and increase the expression of inflammatory factors in Sprague-Dawley rats.
• The study's authors, Zhu Ran, Zou Quan, Wei Hanbing, Zhu Jintuo, and He Xinjian, are affiliated with China University of Mining and Technology.

Statistics:

• Tear secretion in the treatment group: 2.64 ± 0.57 mm.
• Tear secretion in the control group: 5.42 ± 0.28 mm.
• Tear-film breakup time in the treatment group: 4.23 ± 0.47 s.
• Tear-film breakup time in the control group: 6.15 ± 0.36 s.
• Conjunctival congestion score in the treatment group: 2 (2, 3).
• Conjunctival congestion score in the control group: 0 (0, 1).

Sources:

• NewsRx. Research from China University of Mining and Technology Has Provided New Data on Life Sciences (Influencing of coal industry related airborne particulate matter on ocular surface tear film injury and inflammatory factor expression in Sprague-Dawley rats). Life Science Weekly. November 4, 2025; p 5122.
• Zhu Ran, et al. Influencing of coal industry related airborne particulate matter on ocular surface tear film injury and inflammatory factor expression in Sprague-Dawley rats. Open Life Sciences, 2025, 20(1):735-53. (Open Life Sciences - http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biol)