Comparative toxicity of ambient air pollutants: some aspects related to lung defense.
Clearance mechanisms are an integral part of pulmonary defense, serving to rid the lungs of inhaled particles that deposit upon airway surfaces. This is accomplished by mucociliary transport in conducting airways and to a large extent by alveolar macrophages in the respiratory region. This paper compares the effects of acute exposure to sulfuric acid (H2SO4), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), or ozone (O3) on mucociliary clearance in rabbits and on phagocytic activity of macrophages recovered by bronchopulmonary lavage from animals exposed in vivo. The possible toxicologic mechanisms underlying dysfunction of clearance mediated by these irritants is discussed in terms of response to a pure acid (H2SO4), a pure oxidant (O3), and a material (NO2) that is a direct oxidant but which may produce secondary oxidants and acids upon dissolution in lung fluids.
Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
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Schlesinger
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects*; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000633:toxicity
D000393:Air Pollutants; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D010126:Ozone; C033158:sulfuric acid; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide