Abstract
A group of eight rabbits was exposed (orally) for 1 hr to a distilled water aerosol (sham control) or to submicrometer aerosols of either a transition metal sulfite complex (Fe(III)S(IV)), sodium sulfite (Na 2SO 3), or sulfuric acid (H 2SO 4). Mucociliary clearance was evaluated by external retention measurements of radioactively tagged tracer particles from the bronchial tree. Fe(III)S(IV) in the range of 238 to 1227 μg/m 3 (as SO 3 2−) produced no significant change from sham control in the mean residence time (MRT) of the tracer, indicating no effect upon mucociliary clearance rate. On the other hand, Na 2SO 3 at levels ≥1200 μg/m 3 (as SO 3 2−) resulted in clearance acceleration; the lack of effect of Fe(III)S(IV) is possibly due to its stability. H 2SO 4 at 260 to 2155 μg/m 3 produced a significant dose-related response, indicating clearance acceleration at low concentrations and a depression at higher levels.
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