Investigation of effects of prolonged inhalation of nickel-enriched fly ash in Syrian Golden hamsters

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5760937

Wehner, A P

Groups of 102 Male Syrian Golden hamsters were chronically exposed to approx. 70 micrograms/l respirable Nickel Enriched Fly Ash aerosol (high NEFA group), approx. 17 micrograms/l (low NEFA group), or approx. 70 micrograms/l FA 6 hrs/day, 5 days/week for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 months. Identical control groups received sham exposures. The NEFA particles of respirable size contained approximately 6% nickel, compared to about 0.3% for FA. Exposure to NEFA had no significant effect on the apparent well being, body weight and life span of the animals although heavy deposits of NEFA in the lungs were found. The lung weights and mean lung volumes of the high NEFA and FA exposed animals were significantly higher and larger, respectively, than for the low NEFA and control groups. There was a 100% incidence of dust deposition (anthracosis) and significantly higher incidence plus severity of interstitial reaction and bronchiolization in the dust-exposed groups than the controls. The severity of lung reactions was significantly lower in the low NEFA group than the high NEFA and FA groups. The results of this study conclude that the addition of nickel to fly ash under these conditions did not significantly (P< 0.05) enhance the pathogenicity (including carcinogenicity) of fly ash in this animal model.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5760937
• Report Number(s): PB-81-152514
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FLY ASH
TOXICITY
AEROSOLS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
HAMSTERS
INHALATION
LABORATORY ANIMALS
NICKEL
AEROSOL WASTES
ANIMALS
ASHES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
METALS
RESIDUES
RODENTS
SOLS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)