Preparation of a composite dust suppressant and investigation of its toxicity to lung tissue in C57BL/6 mice

Excessively high dust concentrations can induce pneumoconiosis, a condition presenting considerable therapeutic challenges. Dust suppressants constitute one effective means of dust control; however, research on dust suppressants has predominantly focused on characterizing their performance properties, with no systematic evaluations to date of their toxic effects on lung tissue. Therefore, through modification and response surface analysis, this study determined the optimal formulation for a composite dust suppressant to be as follows: 0.47 g modified guar gum, 0.24 mL rhamnolipid, and 5.36 g polyethylene glycol. Three toxic-exposure models were established to investigate the effects of dust and dust suppressants—both individually and in combination—on the lung tissue of C57BL/6 mice. The results indicated that low concentrations of dust suppressant (4 mg/m3) reduced total protein and immunoglobulin levels, thereby lowering mucosal infection risk; moderate concentrations (4–20 mg/m3) inhibited M1-type alveolar macrophage polarization and inflammatory factor expression (IL-6, TNF-α, etc.); and high doses (100 mg/m3) reduced the pulmonary fibrosis positivity rate from 11.31% to 1.30%, showing a tendency to reduce the probability of fibrosis. This study preliminarily complements the toxicological research system of dust suppressants and offers preliminary reference for the safe application of composite dust suppressants.