Effects of toluene inhalation on pulmonary host defenses of mice.
The potential hazards of exposure to vapor-phase toluene on pulmonary host defenses were evaluated. Mice exposed to concentrations ranging from 2.5-500 ppm, including the threshold limit value level of 100 ppm, exhibited increased susceptibility to respiratory infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The no-measurable-effect level for single, as well as for 5 exposures was 1 ppm. Significantly decreased pulmonary bactericidal activity was observed after single exposures to 500, 250, 100 and 2.5 ppm toluene, and after 5 daily 3-h exposures to 1.0 ppm of toluene. A 20-exposure study with toluene at 1 ppm produced no changes in either of the 2 assays.
D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D014050:Toluene / Q000633:toxicity*
D014050:Toluene