Respiratory alterations due to urban air pollution: An experimental study in rats

Journal Article · Fri Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80016-7· OSTI ID:7279742

Saldiva, P H.N.; King, M; Delmonte, V L.C.; Macchione, M; Parada, M A.C.; Daliberto, M L; Sakae, R S; Criado, P M.P.; Silveira, P L.P.; Zin, W A; Boehm, G M ^[1]

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1. Univ. de Sao Paulo (Brazil) Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton (Canada)

In order to assess the adverse effects of urban levels of air pollution, rats were used as biological indicators in a chronic exposure experiment. Animals were housed for 6 months in the center of Sao Paulo and were compared to controls kept for the same period in a clean area. Pollution levels were obtained from a State air pollution monitoring station, 200 m distant from the exposure place, which provided the levels of CO, SO{sub 2}, particulates, and ozone. The animals were submitted to several tests focusing on the respiratory system, comprising pulmonary function tests, studies on mucociliary clearance and mucus rheology, histochemical evaluation of airways, bronchoalveolar lavage, and ultrastructural studies of the epithelium of the airways. Rats exposed to air pollution developed secretory cell hyperplasia in the airways, ultrastructural ciliary alterations, and a more rigid mucus, changes that caused mucociliary clearance impairment. In addition, nasal resistance and the number of inflammatory cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage were increased in air pollution exposed animals. The results obtained in the present investigation suggest that chronic exposure to urban levels of air pollution may cause respiratory lesions in rats.

• OSTI ID: 7279742
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (United States) Vol. 57:1; ISSN ENVRA; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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