IMR Press / FBL / Volume 29 / Issue 8 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2908304
Open Access Systematic Review
Toxicological Implications of Platinum Group Elements (PGEs): A Systematic Review of In Vivo and In Vitro Studies Using Mammalian Models
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Affiliation
1 Department of Laboratory of Environmental and Food Hygiene, Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
2 International Society of Doctors for Environment ISDE Italia, Section of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
3 Research Center in Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
4 School of Doctor specialization in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
5 Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
*Correspondence: olivericonti@unict.it (Gea Oliveri Conti)
These authors contributed equally.
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2024, 29(8), 304; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2908304
Submitted: 3 April 2024 | Revised: 24 June 2024 | Accepted: 12 July 2024 | Published: 22 August 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: The six Platinum group metal elements (PGEs) comprising Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Platinum, Iridium and Osmium are grouped together in the periodic table. Human activities are mostly responsible for releasing PGEs into the environment. This systematic review focused on three PGEs with the greatest anthropogenic use, including in vehicle catalytic converters: Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd), and Rhodium (Rh). Consequently, these represent the greatest contributors to environmental pollution. The current review of in vivo toxicological studies (mammalian models) and in vitro cell exposure studies examined the potential harmful effects of these metalloids to mammalians, and their possible toxicity to human health. Methods: We applied Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to conduct a comprehensive search and evaluation of records in the available literature published between 01/01/2009 and 01/15/2024 in four databases. PROSPERO code ID: CRD42024471558. Results concerning the health effects of PGEs were extracted from articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After screening the records for eligibility, 22 studies were included in the final analysis. Results: This systematic review revealed that airborne PGEs significantly increased the activation of pathologic pathways in several human organs and/or perturbed various metabolic pathways. In view of the known pro-inflammatory and organ-degenerative effects of PGEs, the paucity of studies on the effect of PGEs on the central nervous system and on possible correlations with neurodegenerative diseases were particularly evident. Conclusions: The clinical complexity and chronic nature of PGE-related pathologies indicate that targeted research is essential. In light of the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, particular attention should be paid to the design of epidemiological studies and to environmental monitoring services.

Keywords
PGE toxicology
in vivo model
in vitro model
mammalian
air pollution
PRISMA
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Funding
n.22358/ AIRBOrnE project
Line of Intervention 3 “Starting Grant” of the “PIACERI” - University of Catania research incentive plan “2020/2022”
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