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

Journal Article · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987 · 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), Journal Name: Exp. Lung Res.; (United States) Vol. 14:1; ISSN EXLRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
GUINEA PIGS
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MICROSPHERES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RETENTION
RODENTS
SCANDIUM 46
SCANDIUM ISOTOPES
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
SIZE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES