Effect of concentration and cumulative exposure of inhaled sulfuric acid on tracheobronchial particle clearance in healthy humans

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8979167· OSTI ID:5900683

Spektor, D M; Yen, B M; Lippmann, M

We have previously shown that 1-hr exposures to 0.5 microns sulfuric acid (H2SO4) mist at 100 and 1000 micrograms/m3 produced transient alterations of bronchial mucociliary clearance of monodispersed 7.6 and 4.2 microns mass median aerodynamic diameter gamma-tagged ferric oxide (Fe2O3) in healthy nonsmoking humans in a dose-dependent manner. To determine the role, if any, of the length of exposure, 10 healthy volunteers were exposed to 100 micrograms/m3 H2SO4 for 1 hr and 2 hr on separate occasions, 1 week apart, with measurements of their mucociliary clearance of 5.2 microns Fe2O3 particles inhaled both before and after the inhalation of the H2SO4. Their rate of bronchial mucociliary clearance was markedly reduced for both Fe2O3 aerosols, with slower clearance of the aerosol inhaled after the H2SO4 exposure. For the tagged Fe2O3 aerosol inhaled after exposure for 2 hr at 100 micrograms/m3 H2SO4, the tracheobronchial clearance halftime, (T50), tripled from control, and the reduced rate of clearance was still evident 3 hr after the end of exposure. The 1-hr 100 micrograms/m3 H2SO4 exposure doubled T50 from control, and the reduced rate of clearance lasted for about 2 hr after the end of exposure. These results indicate that the effect of doubling the length of exposure was as great or greater than an order of magnitude increase in the concentration of H2SO4.

• Research Organization: New York Univ. Medical Center, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5900683
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 79; ISSN EVHPA
• 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.
ACID RAIN
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BRONCHI
CLEARANCE
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXCRETION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INHALATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTAKE
LUNG CLEARANCE
MAMMALS
MAN
PARTICLE SIZE
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RAIN
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SIZE
SOLS
SULFURIC ACID
TRACHEA
VERTEBRATES