Pulmonary effects of inhaled zinc oxide in human subjects, guinea pigs, rats, and rabbits

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15298669291360030· OSTI ID:7013361

Gordon, T; Chen, L C; Fine, J M; Schlesinger, R B; Su, W Y; Kimmel, T A; Amdur, M O ^[1]

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1. New York University Medical Center, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Tuxedo (United States)

Occupational exposure to freshly formed zinc oxide (ZnO) particles (less than 1.0 micron aerodynamic diameter) produces a well-characterized response known as metal fume fever. An 8-hr threshold limit value (TLV) of 5 mg/m3 has been established to prevent adverse health effects because of exposure to ZnO fumes. Because animal toxicity studies have demonstrated pulmonary effects near the current TLV, the present study examined the time course and dose-response of the pulmonary injury produced by inhaled ZnO in guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, and human volunteers. The test animals were exposed to 0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/m3 ZnO for up to 3 hr and their lungs lavaged. Both the lavage fluid and recovered cells were examined for evidence of inflammation or altered cell function. The lavage fluid from guinea pigs and rats exposed to 5 mg/m3 had significant increases in total cells, lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase, and protein content. These changes were greatest 24 hr after exposure. Guinea pig alveolar macrophage function was depressed as evidenced by in vitro phagocytosis of opsonized latex beads. Significant changes in lavage fluid parameters were also observed in guinea pigs and rats exposed to 2.5 mg/m3 ZnO. In contrast, rabbits showed no increase in biochemical or cellular parameters following a 2-hr exposure to 5 mg/m3 ZnO. Differences in total lung burden of ZnO, as determined in additional animals by atomic absorption spectroscopy, appeared to account for the observed differences in species responses. Although the lungs of guinea pigs and rats retained approximately 20% and 12% of the inhaled dose, respectively, rabbits retained only 5%.

• OSTI ID: 7013361
• Journal Information: American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (United States), Journal Name: American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (United States) Vol. 53:8; ISSN AIHAA; ISSN 0002-8894
• 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
CHALCOGENIDES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ENZYMES
FEVER
GLUCURONIDASE
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
GUINEA PIGS
HEMIACETAL DEHYDROGENASES
HYDROLASES
INHALATION
INTAKE
LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE
LAVAGE
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
MAN
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHAGOCYTES
PHAGOCYTOSIS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
RABBITS
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
SOMATIC CELLS
SYMPTOMS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES