Inflammatory stress response in A549 cells as a result of exposure to coal: Evidence for the role of pyrite in coal workers' pneumoconiosis pathogenesis

While ISR does not increase proportionally to pyrite content in coal, the two coals with the highest pyritic sulfur and available iron contents generate the greatest ISR. Therefore, the present study indicates that coals with elevated pyrite contents are likely to induce a significant health burden by stimulating inflammation within the lungs, and may contribute to the development of CWP.