Long-term intermittent exposure to sulfuric acid aerosol, ozone, and their combination: alterations in tracheobronchial mucociliary clearance and epithelial secretory cells

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Experimental Lung Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3109/01902149209064343· OSTI ID:6992933

Schlesinger, R B; Gorczynski, J E; Dennison, J; Richards, L; Kinney, P L; Bosland, M C ^[1]

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1. Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Medical Center, NY (United States)

Understanding the effects from long-term exposure to individual ambient air pollutants and mixtures of pollutants is necessary for adequate assessment of health risk. This study examined quantitative and temporal alterations in tracheobronchial mucociliary clearance function and bronchial epithelial secretory cells in rabbits exposed to sulfuric acid (125 micrograms/m3), ozone (0.1 ppm), and their combination for 2 h/d, 5 d/wk for up to 1 yr; some animals were allowed a 6-month post-exposure period. Clearance times were altered during exposure to sulfuric acid or to the mixture, and became progressively slower following the end of exposures to each of the pollutant atmospheres. There was no indication of any interaction in terms of clearance response between the acid and ozone in the group exposed to the mixture. Histological examination of intrapulmonary conducting airways was performed after 4, 8, or 12 months of exposure, and after the post-exposure period. Sulfuric acid resulted in an increase in the number of secretory cells in small airways by 12 months of exposure. Ozone and the mixture resulted in an increase in secretory cell number by 4 months, but the response became attenuated with continued exposure. There was evidence for synergistic interaction between ozone and acid at 4 months, and antagonistic interaction at subsequent times. No inflammation or other biologically significant histological effects were found in any of the animals.

• OSTI ID: 6992933
• Journal Information: Experimental Lung Research; (United States), Journal Name: Experimental Lung Research; (United States) Vol. 18:4; ISSN 0190-2148; ISSN EXLRD
• 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.
AEROSOLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
BRONCHI
CLEARANCE
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EPITHELIUM
EXCRETION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LAVAGE
LUNG CLEARANCE
MAMMALS
MIXTURES
OZONE
RABBITS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
SOLS
SULFURIC ACID
TISSUES
TOXICITY
TRACHEA
VERTEBRATES