Lung clearance and disposition of /sup 63/Ni in F344/N rats after intratracheal instillation of nickel sulfate solutions

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6470618

Medinsky, M A; Benson, J M; Hobbs, C H

Epidemiology studies have indicated increased incidences of respiratory tract and renal cancer in nickel refinery workers. Since the most likely route of exposure to nickel in the workplace is via the respiratory tract, the objectives of the experiments described here were to determine the retention pattern of Ni in the lungs, identify the target organs for Ni absorbed from the respiratory tract, and determine rates for excretion of Ni. Male and female F344 rats were given 17, 190, or 1800 nmoles Ni (as a nickel sulfate solution) in saline, containing trace amounts of /sup 63/Ni, by intratracheal instillation. Urine and feces were collected, and rats were necropsied at predetermined times up to 96 hr after instillation. At all times, lungs, trachea, larynx, kidney, and urinary bladder contained the highest concentrations of Ni as determined by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Urine was the major route for excretion of Ni, accounting for 50% of the dose after instillation of 17 or 190 nmoles Ni, and 80% of the dose after instillation of 1800 nmoles Ni. The half-time for urinary excretion of Ni increased from 4.6 hr at the highest dose to 23 hr at the lowest dose used. Fecal excretion accounted for 30% (17- and 190-nmole doses) or 13% (1800 nmoles) of the initial dose. Of the Ni remaining in the body at the end of 96 hr, over 50% was in the lungs. The long-term half-time for clearance of Ni from the lungs ranged from 21 hr at the highest dose to 36 hr at the lowest dose instilled. As the amount of instilled Ni decreased, the fraction of the instilled Ni associated with the long-term clearance component increased (from 24% at the highest dose to 40% at the lowest dose). Results suggest that, over the range of doses studied, both pulmonary clearance of Ni and routes for excretion of Ni were dependent on the instilled dose.

• Research Organization: Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
• OSTI ID: 6470618
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY FLUIDS
CLEARANCE
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FECES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METABOLISM
METALS
NICKEL
NICKEL 63
NICKEL ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RODENTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URINE
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES