Changes in pulmonary lavage fluid of guinea pigs exposed to ultrafine zinc oxide with adsorbed sulfuric acid

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398909531247· OSTI ID:6071608

Conner, M W; Flood, W H; Rogers, A E; Amdur, M O

Ultrafine metal oxide particles (diameters less than 0.1 microns) and sulfur dioxide are important products of coal combustion. Interaction of these products in the effluent stream results in formation of ultrafine particles with adsorbed sulfur compounds, including sulfuric acid. The toxicity of ultrafine zinc oxide particles with adsorbed sulfuric acid was evaluated by comparing pulmonary lavage fluid from guinea pigs exposed for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 consecutive daily 3-h periods to ultrafine zinc oxide generated in the presence of sulfur dioxide (ZnO + SO/sub 2/) to pulmonary lavage fluid from guinea pigs exposed to an equivalent concentration of ultrafine ZnO. Two groups of guinea pigs exposed either to SO/sub 2/ or to particle-free furnace gas served as additional controls. Cells, protein, and activities of lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase were increased in lavage fluid obtained from guinea pigs exposed to ZnO + SO/sub 2/ as compared to guinea pigs exposed to ZnO. These results demonstrate the potential importance of ultrafine metal oxides as carries of sulfuric acid derived from fossil fuel combustion.

• Research Organization: Boston Univ. School of Medicine, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6071608
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 26:2; ISSN JTEHD
• 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 PHOSPHATASE
ADSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
GLUCURONIDASE
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
GUINEA PIGS
HEMIACETAL DEHYDROGENASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLASES
INORGANIC ACIDS
LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE
LAVAGE
LEUKOCYTES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
NEUTROPHILS
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PHOSPHATASES
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
SIZE
SORPTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
ZINC