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Effects of Air Pollution on Animals.

Catcott EJ

Air Pollution, World Health Organization: Monograph Series, No. 46, Geneva 1961:221-231

00176498

The natural exposure of animals to air pollution was reviewed based on information from reports of the major air pollution disasters at Donora, Pennsylvania, London, England, and Poza Rica, Mexico. Intense smog at Donora in 1948 produced observations of illness and mortality among pet and farm animals as reported by veterinarians and owners. Dogs, cats, and poultry were the most susceptible species. Larger farm animals were generally unaffected. Cattle were reported to be severely affected by the London fog of 1952 of which sulfur-dioxide (7446095) was the chief contaminant. Hydrogen- sulfide (7783064) was the primary contaminant of the air pollution event at Poza Rica in 1950, which greatly affected a variety of animals including canaries, chickens, cattle, pigs, geese, ducks, and dogs. Results of studies using laboratory animals have confirmed the observations made regarding the reactions of animals to increased levels of specific chemical air pollutants. Mice, rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats, and monkeys have been exposed to sulfur- dioxide, sulfuric-acid (7664939), hydrogen-sulfide, ozone (10028156), nitrogen-dioxide (10102440), hydrocarbons, and various dusts under controlled laboratory conditions. The purpose of these studies was to provide an index of human and animal effects expected from natural exposure to air pollution. Other topics discussed included exposure to oxidizing air pollution such as occurs on the west coast of the United States, animal fluorosis, and the effects of animal exposure to ionizing radiation.

Agricultural-industry; Animal-husbandry; Livestock; Air-contamination; Respiratory-irritants; Pulmonary-function; Environmental-exposure; Laboratory-animals; Air-quality; Ionizing-radiation;

7446-09-5; 7783-06-4; 7664-93-9; 10028-15-6; 10102-44-0;

19610101

1961

Air Pollution, World Health Organization: Monograph Series, No. 46, Geneva

PA;