Modeling of Toxicological Effects of Fire Gases: VII. Studies on Evaluation of Animal Models in Combustion Toxicology

Abstract

This study evaluated the potential use of the guinea pig as an animal model in conducting combustion toxicology experiments in which lethality is the end point. The guinea pig was found to be approximately three times as sensitive as the rat upon exposure to hydrogen chloride, presumably due to its tendency for bronchoconstriction. Compared to the rat, the guinea pig was relatively in sensitive to carbon monoxide. Lethal effects of mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride showed additivity only at relatively high concentrations of carbon monoxide. The lethal toxic potency of hydrogen cyanide was about the same for both the rat and the guinea pig. Based on comparisons of available toxicity data for humans and nonhuman primates, it was concluded that the rat is the better model when lethality studies are used. However, it is uncertain which animal model would be better when sublethal exposures, particularly to irritants, are considered.