Effect of nitrogen dioxide on human nasal epithelium

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1165/ajrcmb/9.3.264· OSTI ID:5634639

Carson, J L; Collier, A M; Hu, S C; Delvin, R B ^[1]

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1. Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)

The nasal epithelium of young adult white men in good health was evaluated by electron microscopy in a condition blind fashion relative to exposures of 2 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or clean air for 4 h. The exposure protocol involved two separate exposures of the same individuals to NO2 or clean air approximately 3 wk apart. We found qualitative and quantitative evidence that luminal border membranes of ciliated cells were ultrastructurally altered in six of seven samples of nasal epithelium obtained following NO2 exposures, although subsequent morphometric statistical analyses were not significant. This alteration was characterized by cilia containing excess matrix in which individual or, more commonly, multiple ciliary axonemes were embedded, and by vesiculations of luminal border ciliary membranes, a pattern less common in clean air-exposed control specimens. Although these patterns were not widespread, their morphology was consistent with findings of previous animal studies involving acute and chronic exposure to NO2. Our findings suggest that adverse effects on mucociliary function in normal humans due to acute exposure to low levels of NO2 are most likely minimal. However, in view of other reports of NO2 exposure in laboratory animals documenting ciliary injury, our observations support a view that similar patterns might appear more prominently with higher NO2 levels and/or more extended exposure intervals.

• OSTI ID: 5634639
• Journal Information: American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology; (United States), Journal Name: American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology; (United States) Vol. 9:3; ISSN 1044-1549; ISSN AJRBEL
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EPITHELIUM
FACE
HEAD
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MEN
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NOSE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES