Pulmonary effects due to short-term exposure to oil fog

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5536086

Selgrade, M K; Hatch, G E; Grose, E C; Illing, J W; Snead, A G

Rats were exposed to an oil fog generated by flash vaporization and subsequent condensation of light-weight lubricating oil. Exposures were for 3.5 hrs/day, 4 days/wk, for 4 wks, at concentrations of 1.5, 0.5, or 0.1mg/1 and a particle size of approximately 1 micronole. Samples of respiratory tissues were taken for histopathologic analyses, lavage fluid samples were collected, and pulmonary function measurements were made the day after the last exposure. An accumulation of macrophages within the alveolar lumen, an increase in lavage fluid protein content, and an increase in total cell content in lavage fluid due to an influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was noted in rats exposed at the 1.5 mg level. Also, for the exposure group there was an increase in lung wet and dry weight, and an increase in end expiratory volume, and pneumonitis was observed histopathologically in 4 of 10 male rats exposed. Pneumonitis was not observed among 6 female rats examined. Oil fog had no effect on total lung capacity, residual volume, vital capacity, lung compliance, or the distribution of ventilated air within the lung. Effects following exposure to 0.5 mg/1 were limited to slight accumulation of macrophages in the alveolar lumen and an increase in the total cells in lavage fluid which could not be attributed to an increase in any particular cell type.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Health Effects Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5536086
• Report Number(s): PB-88-139639/XAB; EPA-600/J-87/094
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
550900 -- Pathology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FLUIDS
GASES
LABORATORY ANIMALS
LUBRICANTS
LUBRICATING OILS
MAMMALS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
VAPORS
VERTEBRATES