Effect of repeated exposures to nitrogen dioxide and sulfuric acid mist alone or in combination on mucociliary clearance from the lungs of rabbits

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(87)80238-4· OSTI ID:5504417

Schlesinger, R B; Driscoll, K E; Vollmuth, T A

The biological response to ambient air pollution may be a function of specific combinations of pollutants. Groups of rabbits were exposed to NO/sub 2/ (0.3 ppm or 1 ppm) with and without H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ (0.5 mg/m3) for 2 hr/day for up to 14 days for assessment of effects upon mucociliary clearance of tracer particles from the tracheobronchial tree. Exposure to NO/sub 2/ did not alter clearance, while exposure to H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ produced a retardation toward the middle of the exposure series. The combination of 0.3 ppm NO/sub 2/ with H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ resulted in a speeding of clearance, while no change from control was seen with the mixture employing 1 ppm NO/sub 2/ with acid. These results emphasize the importance of performing studies with pollutant mixtures, since it is not always possible to extrapolate responses from studies examining effects of individual pollutants.

• Research Organization: New York Univ. Medical Center, NY
• OSTI ID: 5504417
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 44:2; ISSN ENVRA
• 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.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEARANCE
EXCRETION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LUNG CLEARANCE
MAMMALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RABBITS
SULFURIC ACID
SYNERGISM
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES