Effects of inhaled nitrogen dioxide and diesel exhaust on developing lung

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1986 · Research Report Health Effects Institue; (USA)

OSTI ID:5223361

Mauderly, J L; Bice, D E; Carpenter, R L; Gillett, N A; Henderson, R F; Pickrell, J A; Wolff, R K ^[1]

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1. Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM (USA)

This study examined age-related differences in the physiological responses of rats to inhaled automotive emissions. Previous reports suggested that lung development of animals exposed to oxidant gases early in life might be impaired, or that developing lungs might be more susceptible than adult lungs to inhaled toxicants. There were no previous comparisons in developing and adult lungs of the effects of atmospheres containing particles. The hypothesis tested in this study was that rats exposed to chronically inhaled nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or diesel exhaust during lung development were more susceptible to lung injury than rats that were exposed to these atmospheres as adults. Rats were exposed either throughout the period of lung development or as adults, and health effects in the two groups were compared at the end of exposure. Rats were exposed seven hours per day, five days per week for six months to NO2 at 9.5 ppm, to whole diesel exhaust diluted to a soot concentration of 3.5 mg/m3, or to filtered air as controls. These concentrations were selected to produce mild effects in adults. The younger group (developing) was conceived in the exposure atmospheres and exposed during gestation and through the age of six months, and the older group (adult) was exposed between six and twelve months of age. Health effects were evaluated at the end of six months' exposure and some measurements were repeated six months after the cessation of exposure. Measurements included respiratory function, pulmonary immune responses, lung clearance of radiolabeled particles, airway fluid enzymes, protein and cytology, lung tissue collagen and proteinases, lung burdens of diesel soot, lung morphometry and histopathology.

• OSTI ID: 5223361
• Journal Information: Research Report Health Effects Institue; (USA), Journal Name: Research Report Health Effects Institue; (USA) Vol. 8; ISSN RRHIE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AUTOMOBILES
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DIESEL ENGINES
DISEASES
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RODENTS
TOXICITY
VEHICLES
VERTEBRATES
WASTES