Comparative potency of inhaled acidic sulfates: Speciation and the role of hydrogen ion

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80255-5· OSTI ID:5618966

Schlesinger, R B; Chen, Lung Chi; Finkelstein, I; Zelikoff, J T ^[1]

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1. New York Univ., NY (United States)

This study examines comparatively the effects of exposure to the two main ambient acidic sulfates, sulfuric acid (H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}) and ammonium bisulfate (NH{sub 4}HSO{sub 4}), using the phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages as the endpoint. Rabbits were exposed to 250-2,000 {mu}g/m{sup 3} H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} (as SO{sub 3}{sup {minus}2}) and 500-4,000 {mu}g/m{sup 3} NH{sub 4}HSO{sub 4} (as SO{sub 4}{sup {minus}2}) for 1 hr/day for 5 days; bronchopulmonary lavage was then performed for recovery of free lung cells. Phagocytosis was altered by exposure to H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} at concentrations {ge}500 {mu}g/m{sup 3} and to NH{sub 4}HSO{sub 4} at {ge}2,000 {mu}g/m{sup 3}. Assessment of results in terms of the calculated hydrogen ion concentration in the exposure atmosphere showed that identical levels of H{sup +} produced different degrees of response depending upon whether exposure was to H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} or NH{sub 4}HSO{sub 4}. On the other hand, macrophages incubated in acidic environments in vitro responded similarly regardless of whether H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} or NH{sub 4}HSO{sub 4} was used to adjust the pH. Possible reasons for the difference in response observed in vivo and in vitro are discussed. Speciation of ambient acidic sulfate aerosols may be needed in atmospheric monitoring so as to assess the presence of H{sup +} posing the greatest biologic hazard following inhalation exposure.

• OSTI ID: 5618966
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Vol. 52:2; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID SULFATES
TOXICITY
AMMONIUM SULFATES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
HYDROGEN IONS 1 PLUS
IN VITRO
IN VIVO
INHALATION
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
PHAGOCYTOSIS
RABBITS
STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS
SULFURIC ACID
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
EVALUATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN IONS
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTAKE
IONS
MAMMALS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHAGOCYTES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology