Fate of lead in petrol-engine exhaust particulates inhaled by the rat

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(78)90077-4· OSTI ID:7085181

Morgan, A; Holmes, A

Tetraethyl lead, labelled with /sup 203/Pb, was added to lead-free petrol which was used to fuel a four-stroke engine. The exhaust aerosol, after reduction of the CO concentration, was inhaled by rats using a ''nose-only'' technique. Following exposure, animals were sacrificed serially over a period of 8 days and the /sup 203/Pb content of the various tissues and excreta was measured radiometrically. The interpretation of the results was complicated by the ingestion of absorbed /sup 203/Pb in particulates deposited on the pelt during exposure. It was established in separate experiments, however, that /sup 203/Pb in ingested exhaust particulates is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) to a significant extent. It was possible to show that 20 to 25% of the inhaled /sup 203/Pb was deposited in the respiratory tract, mainly in the alveolar region of the lungs. At least half of the /sup 203/Pb depostied in the lungs was absorbed with a half-time of less than 1 hour. After a week only about 2% of the deposited activity remained. The metabolism of absorbed lead is similar to that observed following its intravenous injection in chloride form. While the rate of absorption of /sup 203/Pb from particulates deposited in the lungs appears to be rather similar in rat and in man, the metabolism of absorbed /sup 203/Pb shows marked differences.

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Eng.
• OSTI ID: 7085181
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 15:1; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
ANIMALS
AUTOMOBILES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BODY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DEPOSITION
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXHAUST GASES
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASOLINE
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HEAVY NUCLEI
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEAD
LEAD 203
LEAD COMPOUNDS
LEAD ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
METALS
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
SOLS
TEL
UPTAKE
VEHICLES
VERTEBRATES
WASTES