Deposition and retention patterns for 3-, 9-, and 15-micron latex microspheres inhaled by rats and guinea pigs

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Exp. Lung Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3109/01902148809062849· OSTI ID:5164929

Snipes, M B; Olson, T R; Yeh, H C

This study was designed to determine the deposition patterns and fate of large particles inhaled by two species of small laboratory animals during nose breathing. Rats and guinea pigs inhaled 3-, 9-, or 15 micron polystyrene latex microspheres labeled with /sup 46/Sc. Approximately 1.4% and 0.55% of the initial internally deposited body burden of 3-micron microspheres was in the alveolar region of the respiratory tract of rats and guinea pigs, respectively. None of the 9- or 15-micron microspheres were detected in the alveolar regions of the rats or guinea pigs. Ninety-five to 99% of the deposited microspheres cleared from these animals with biological half-times of 0.5-1.0 day. Most of the cleared radioactivity was in the feces. Approximations for long-term biological half-times for alveolar retention of the 3-micron microspheres were 63 days for rats and 83 days for guinea pigs. About 1% of the initial lung burden of 3-micron microspheres was translocated from lung to lung-associated lymph nodes in both species; none of the 9- or 15-micron microspheres were detected in those lymph nodes. Small fractions of the microspheres initially deposited in the airways of the head were retained with biological clearance half-times ranging from 9 to 350 days. Results from this study do not allow projections for deposition and retention patterns for similar particles inhaled by humans. Such projections must come from studies with humans, or from studies with animal species having deposition patterns for inhaled materials more comparable to those of humans.

• Research Organization: Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5164929
• Journal Information: Exp. Lung Res.; (United States), Vol. 14:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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INHALATION
RETENTION
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE
GUINEA PIGS
MICROSPHERES
PARTICLE SIZE
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ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
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MAMMALS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
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