Pulmonary toxicity of Mount St. Helens volcanic ash

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(82)90063-9· OSTI ID:5528677

Sanders, C L; Conklin, A W; Gelman, R A; Adee, R R; Rhoads, K

The effects of Mount St. Helens volcanic ash, a sandy loam soil, and quartz particles on the lung and mediastinal lymph nodes of Fischer rats were studied at time intervals of up to 109 days after in tratracheal instillation of 40 mg ash, soil, or quartz in a single dose or after multiple doses of ash instilled in seven consecutive weekly doses for a total deposition of 77 mg. Quartz caused early granuloma formation, later fibrosis was also seen in lymph nodes. Volcanic ash caused an ill-defined inflammatory reaction with a few rats showing granuloma formulation, a very limited linear fibrosis, and a moderate lipoproteinosis, and lymph nodes were enlarged with numerous microgranulomas but without reticulin and collagen formation. Pulmonary reactions to soil particles were less intense but similar to those in ash- exposed animals; lymph nodes were not enlarged. No significant clearance of ash was found at 3 months after instillation. Volcanic ash produced a simple pneumoconiosis similar to what has been described for animals and humans living for prolonged periods of time in dusty desert areas of the United States.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• OSTI ID: 5528677
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 27:1; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOL WASTES
ANIMALS
ASHES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEARANCE
DISEASES
EXCRETION
FIBROSIS
FLY ASH
GRANULOMAS
INHALATION
INTAKE
LUNG CLEARANCE
LYMPH NODES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MAMMALS
MOUNTAINS
MT ST HELENS
NEOPLASMS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PNEUMOCONIOSES
QUARTZ
RATS
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RODENTS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SOILS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WASTES