# Induction of fibrotic lung injury by inhalation exposure to arsenic and arsenic-containing mine tailings

> **NIH ES P42** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2026 · $630,591

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY (Project 2: Ding, Zhang)
Chronic environmental exposure to arsenic (As), the major toxic contaminant in mine tailings (mt), is associated
with increased incidence of lung diseases in humans, posing a severe health risk to people living near
contaminated sites. Populations residing near mining sites may be chronically exposed to toxic metal(loid)s via
the inhalation of dusts and ingestion of contaminated water or food, as the metal(loid)s in the dusts can become
bioaccessible. The toxic potential of inhaled As and other metal(loid)s in mine tailings particulate matters (mt-
PMs) is unclear, partly due to the lack of knowledge about their bioavailability in the target tissue following
inhalation exposure and of studies that associated toxicant levels and types with mt-PMs-induced lung toxicity.
Our goal is to discern the toxic potential of inhaled metal(loid)s in mt-PMs by studying toxicokinetics (TK) of the
metal(loid) contaminants in an inhalation exposure model of dust-induced lung injury and advance the
development of strategies and guidelines for risk detection and disease prevention. This goal and our objectives,
to characterize inhalation dust exposure, identify toxicity of individual metal(loid)s in mt-PMs, and test impact of
co-exposures to As and mold (fungal spores) on lung health, address the NIEHS SRP Mandates 1 and 2. The
potential for inhaled metal(loid)s to reach lung cells is high, as it precedes systemic metabolism and inhalation
is a major route for dust exposure. The TK differences between ingestion and inhalation, including differing
profiles of metal(loid) species in the lung, provide key rationale for studying the risks of lung injury from inhalation
of mt-PMs, particularly PM2.5s, which can accumulate in distal (smaller) airways. As ingestion induces lung
fibrosis in rats and mice and As exposure is associated with increased incidence of lung fibrosis in humans.
Thus, we will use As-induced fibrotic lung injury as a model to cha

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11375924
- **Project number:** 5P42ES004940-37
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** Xinxin  Ding
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ES
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $630,591
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-04-01T00:00:00 → 2030-01-31T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11375924

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11375924, Induction of fibrotic lung injury by inhalation exposure to arsenic and arsenic-containing mine tailings (5P42ES004940-37). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-13 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11375924. Licensed CC0.

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