Alveolar macrophages and lung lesions after combined exposure to nickel, cobalt, and trivalent chromium

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9297215· OSTI ID:7013195

Johansson, A; Curstedt, T; Jarstrand, C; Camner, P ^[1]

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1. Section of Lung Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden)

In earlier inhalation exposures of rabbits, nickel increased the production of surfactant by type II cells, with secondary effects on morphology and function of alveolar macrophages. Cobalt induced mainly a nodular growth pattern of the type II cells. Trivalent chromium seemed to impair the capacity of macrophages to catabolize surfactant but did not affect the type II cells. The authors exposed the rabbits by inhalation to combinations of nickel (0.6 mg/m3 as NiCl2) and trivalent chromium [1.2 mg/m3 as Cr(NO3)3] (Ni-Cr), cobalt (0.5 mg/m3 as CoCl2) and nickel (0.5 mg/m3) (Co-Ni), or cobalt (0.5 mg/m3) and chromium (1.2 mg/m3) (Co-Cr) for 4 months, 5 days/week, 6 hr/day. Alveolar macrophages, alveolar type II cells, and lung content of phospholipids were determined. All combined exposures induced more pronounced lung lesions than exposures for each of the metals. Phospholipid concentrations were significantly higher. There were significantly higher percentages of macrophages filled with surfactant-like inclusions and a smooth surface. Accumulations of macrophages in alveoli were more widespread. Chromium potentiated the effects of nickel and cobalt on the type II cells, which led to secondary effects on the macrophages. Nickel potentiated the specific effects of cobalt, i.e., type II cell nodule formation. The result indicates that noxious effects could also be induced in man by combined exposure to nickel, cobalt, and trivalent chromium in concentrations similar to those occurring in some occupational settings.

• OSTI ID: 7013195
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN EVHPAZ; ISSN 0091-6765
• 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.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CHROMIUM
COBALT
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ESTERS
INHALATION
INTAKE
LIPIDS
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
METALS
MIXTURES
NICKEL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHAGOCYTES
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
RABBITS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SOMATIC CELLS
SURFACTANTS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES