Effect of diesel emissions and coal dust inhalation on heart and pulmonary arteries of rats

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398609530904· OSTI ID:5059082

Vallyathan, V; Virmani, R; Rochlani, S; Green, F H; Lewis, T

Fischer 344 (SPF) rats were exposed by inhalation to respirable particulate levels of 2 mg/m3 diesel emissions, diesel emissions plus coal dust, coal dust, or air for 7 h/d, 5 d/wk for 24 mo. The effects of treatment on body and heart weights, right and left ventricular wall thickness, severity of cardiomyopathy, and changes in the small pulmonary arteries were evaluated after 24 mo of exposure. In all dust-exposed animals, light microscopic examination of the lungs revealed dust-laden macrophages in alveolar spaces and focal accumulations of dust-laden macrophages near the respiratory bronchioles associated with hyperplasia of type II cells. This response was more prominent in animals exposed to diesel emissions alone. Age-related myocardial fibrosis and inflammatory infiltrates were common in all four groups. No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups for heart weights, ventricular wall thickness, and pulmonary arterial wall thickness. However, animals exposed to diesel emissions did show a consistent trend toward increased pulmonary arterial wall thickness, for all size categories of artery, compared to controls.

• Research Organization: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV
• OSTI ID: 5059082
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN JTEHD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
02 PETROLEUM
020600 -- Petroleum-- Health & Safety
560305 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ARTERIES
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COAL
DIESEL ENGINES
DUSTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FIBROSIS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEART
HEAT ENGINES
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
ORGANS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RATS
RODENTS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WASTES