Response of rat alveolar macrophages to chronic inhalation of coal dust and/or diesel exhaust
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), Vol. 36:2
- 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.
DUSTS
INHALATION
TOXICITY
EXHAUST GASES
MACROPHAGES
SENSITIVITY
CELL MEMBRANES
CHEMILUMINESCENCE
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COAL
DIESEL ENGINES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
LUNGS
LYSOSOMES
OXYGEN
PROTEINS
RATS
SYNERGISM
UNDERGROUND MINING
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LUMINESCENCE
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
MINING
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
ORGANS
PHAGOCYTES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
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