Activation of HSPA1A promoter by environmental pollutants: An early and rapid response to cellular damage.

•We established the stable HSPA1A promoter-driven luciferase reporter HepG2 cells.•Environmental pollutants induced time-dependent increases in luciferase activity.•HSPA1A promoter activity is a sensitive and responsive indicator of the toxicity.•HepG2-luciferase cells can be used to assess the overall toxicity of pollutants.