Retention of inhaled acetone and ammonia in the dog.

Abstract

Acetone and ammonia are among the many compounds of toxicological interest found in the vapor phase of cigarette smoke. This study involves the handling of these compounds by the respiratory tract of the dog. Specific objectives included determination of uptake of each compound by the entire respiratory tract and by upper and lower portions under varying conditions of ventilatory rate, tidal volume, ad concentration inhaled. Uptake of acetone by the total respiratory tract ranged between 65 and 70% retention of ammonia was about 10% higher. In terms of regional uptake, retention of ammonia was higher than that of acetone in both the upper ad lower tracts. Experiments were also carried out to determine the effect of simultaneous inhalation of either acetone or ammonia with acetaldehyde on the respiratory uptake of acetaldehyde.