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Effects of sulphuric acid aerosols on respiratory tract airways.

Lippmann M; Schlesinger RB; Leikauf G; Spektor D; Albert RE

Ann Occup Hyg, Inhaled Particles V, 1982 Sep; 26(1-4):677-690

https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/26.6.677

00140348

The effects of sulfuric-acid (7664939) aerosols and cigarette smoke on respiratory tract airways were studied in humans and donkeys. Donkeys, and non smoking, and smoking males were exposed to the iron-oxide (1332372) aerosols labeled with technetium-99 (14133767) or gold-198 (10043499). The subjects were exposed to the smoke from 2 to 15 cigarettes 2 hours after administration of the first labeled aerosol. The rate of clearance of the labeled aerosol by the mucociliary bronchi was determined. The male subjects and donkeys were exposed to a sulfuric-acid aerosol at concentrations of 141 to 1052 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m3) for 1 hour, starting 1 hour after exposure to the labeled aerosol. Male subjects and donkeys were exposed to six 1 hour treatments of 200 to 1000microg/m3 sulfuric-acid or 1 hour daily treatments with 100microg/m3 sulfuric-acid for 6 months; or to the smoke from 30 cigarettes 3 times weekly for 4 to 8 months. The rate of mucociliary bronchial clearance of labeled aerosols was determined. Cigarette smoke and inhaled sulfuric-acid aerosols produced essentially the same sequence of effects of mucociliary bronchial clearance: intermittent retrograde mucus flow in the trachea, intermittent clearance in which periods of clearance stasis alternated with abrupt drops in retention, and delays in the onset of clearance followed by rapid clearance. The authors conclude that the similarities in the effects of sulfuric-acid aerosols and cigarette smoke establish a need for further study of the role of sulfuric-acid in the etiology of chronic bronchitis in humans.

Sulfuric acid mists; Cigarette smoking; Humans; Animal studies; Iron oxides; Pulmonary clearance; Respiratory system disorders; Biological effects; Pathology; Toxic effects; Physiological response

New York University, Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.

AOHYA3

7664-93-9; 1332-37-2; 14133-76-7; 10043-49-9

19820901

Journal Article

Walton-WH

90576

Grant

1982

9780080268385

Grant-Number-R01-OH-00318

1-4

0003-4878

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Inhaled Particles V

NY

New York University, New York, New York