Effects of 90 days exposure to catalytically treated automobile exhaust in rats

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(79)90037-9· OSTI ID:5642906

Pepelko, W E; Orthoefer, J G; Yang, Y Y

Groups of 20 rats each were exposed 16 h/day, 7 days/week for 45 or 90 days to a 1:10 dilution of automobile exhaust using a Chevrolet engine equipped with a platinum/palladium (Pt/Pd) catalyst. Body weight gains, food intake, lung weights, static lung compliance, functional residual capacity (FRC), hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentrations were not affected by exposure to auto exhaust. Total lung capacity (TLC) was increased after 45 days (P < 0.01) and TLC/body weight ratios were increased after 45 days (P < 0.01) and 90 days (P < 0.05) exposure. FRC/TLC ratios were decreased (P < 0.01) after 45 days of exposure but not after 90 days. Previous exposure to auto exhaust did not affect arterial blood gases during inspiration of atmospheric air of 100% oxygen. Inspiration of 9% O/sub 2/ resulted in a decrease in P/sub aO/sub 2// compared with controls after 45 days (P < 0.010), but not after 90 days of exposure. Histological evidence of exhaust effects was limited to the detection of numerous alveolar macrophages containing a granular black pigment and small foci of mononuclear cells near smooth muscle locations in alveolar ducts and respiratory bronchi. It was concluded that the catalytic converter was successful in preventing harmful effects in the lung despite an increase in sulfuric acid output.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH
• OSTI ID: 5642906
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 19:1; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
424000 -- Engineering-- Pollution Control Equipment-- (1980-1989)
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AUTOMOBILES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BRONCHI
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DATA
DATA FORMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EQUIPMENT
EXHAUST GASES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GASEOUS WASTES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
ISOLATED VALUES
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHAGOCYTES
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SULFURIC ACID
TIME DEPENDENCE
TOLERANCE
TOXICITY
VEHICLES
VERTEBRATES
WASTES