Response of rat alveolar macrophages to chronic inhalation of coal dust and/or diesel exhaust

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(85)90034-9· OSTI ID:5577707

Castranova, V; Bowman, L; Reasor, M J; Lewis, T; Tucker, J; Miles, P R

The use of diesel-powered equipment in underground mines has raised questions regarding possible synergistic effects of coal dust and diesel emissions. Therefore, the effects of chronic exposure of rats to coal dust and/or diesel exhaust on various properties of alveolar macrophages were investigated. Inhalation exposure of rats was 7 hr/day, 5 days/week for 2 years. Exposure groups were: filtered air controls, 2 mg/m/sup 3/ coal dust, 2 mg/m/sup 3/ diesel particulates, and 1 mg/m/sup 3/ coal dust plus 1 mg/m/sup 3/ diesel exhaust. Exposure to coal dust and/or diesel exhaust had little effect on oxygen consumption, membrane integrity, lysosomal enzyme activity, or protein content of alveolar macrophages. However, exposure to coal dust increased macrophage yield, enhanced chemiluminescence, and increased the activity of the cell membrane (i.e., increased cellular spreading and surface ruffling). In contrast, diesel emissions depressed chemiluminescence and decreased the ruffling of the cell membrane. Therefore, the data suggest that exposure to coal dust and/or diesel exhaust does not affect the viability of alveolar macrophages. However, coal dust may activate alveolar macrophages while diesel emissions may depress the phagocytic activity of these cells. The combination of exposures to coal dust and diesel exhaust results in a phagocytic activity which is an average of the effects of separate exposures.

• Research Organization: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV
• OSTI ID: 5577707
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 36:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CHEMILUMINESCENCE
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COAL
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DIESEL ENGINES
DUSTS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LUMINESCENCE
LUNGS
LYSOSOMES
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
MINING
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN
PHAGOCYTES
PROTEINS
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
SOMATIC CELLS
SYNERGISM
TOXICITY
UNDERGROUND MINING
VERTEBRATES
WASTES