Recovery from manual metal arc-stainless steel welding-fume exposure induced lung fibrosis in Sprague-Dawley rats.
Welders with radiographic pneumoconiosis abnormalities have exhibited a gradual clearing of the X-ray identified effects following removal from exposure. In some cases, the pulmonary fibrosis associated with welding fumes appears in a more severe form in welders. Accordingly, to investigate the disease and recovery process of pneumoconiosis induced by welding-fume exposure, rats were exposed to welding fumes with concentrations of 63.6+/-4.1 mg/m(3) (low dose) and 107.1+/-6.3 mg/m(3) (high dose) of total suspended particulate for 2 h per day in an inhalation chamber for a total of 2 h or 15, 30, 60 or 90 days. Thereafter, the rats were no longer exposed and allowed to recover from the welding fume-induced lung fibrosis for 90 days. When compared to the unexposed control group, the lung weights significantly increased in both the low- and high-dose rats from day 15 to 90. A histopathological examination combined with fibrosis-specific staining revealed that the lungs from the low-dose rats did not exhibit any significant progressive fibrotic changes. Whereas, the lungs from the high-dose rats exhibited early delicate fibrosis from day 15, which progressed into the perivascular and peribronchiolar regions by day 30. Interstitial fibrosis appeared at day 60 and became prominent by day 90, along with the additional appearance of pleural fibrosis. Recovery, evaluated based on the body and lung weights and a histopathological examination, was observed in both the high and low-dose rats that were exposed up to 30 days. The rats exposed for 60-90 days at the low dose also recovered from the fibrosis, yet the rats exposed for 60-90 days at the high dose did not fully recover. Consequently, recovery from pneumoconiosis induced by welding-fume exposure was observed when the degree of exposure was short-term and moderate.
Yu
Il Je
IJ
Center for Occupational Toxicology, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Daejeon, South Korea. u1670916@chollian.net
Song
Kyung Seuk
KS
Chang
Hee Kyung
HK
Han
Jeong Hee
JH
Chung
Yong Hyun
YH
Han
Kuy Tae
KT
Chung
Kyu Hyuck
KH
Chung
Ho Keun
HK
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005740:Gases / Q000009:adverse effects; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013193:Stainless Steel; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology; D014896:Welding
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005740:Gases; D013193:Stainless Steel