Rodent Inhalation Studies Research Articles

Evaluation of mixtures of flavor chemicals in a 90-day nose-only exposures in sprague-dawley rats.

One of the challenges to using some flavor chemicals in aerosol products is the lack of route of administration specific toxicology data. Flavor chemicals (88) were divided into four different flavor mixtures based upon chemical compatibility and evaluated in 2-week dose-range-finding and subsequent 90-day nose-only rodent inhalation studies (OECD 413 and GLP compliant). Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to vehicle control or one of three increasing concentrations of each flavor mixture. In the dose-range-range-finding studies, exposure to flavor mixture four resulted in adverse nasal histopathology in female rats at the high dose, resulting in this flavor mixture not being evaluated in a 90-day study. In the 90-day studies daily exposures to the three flavor mixtures did not induce biologically meaningful adverse effects (food consumption, body weights, respiratory physiology, serum chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis and terminal organ weights). All histopathology findings were observed in both vehicle control and flavor mixture exposed animals, with similar incidences and/or severities, and therefore were not considered flavor mixture related. Based on the absence of adverse effects, the no-observed-adverse-effect concentration for each 90-day inhalation study was the highest dose tested, 2.5mg/L of the aerosolized high dose of the three flavor mixtures.

Natural mineral fibers: conducting inhalation toxicology studies—part B: development of a nose-only exposure system for repeat-exposure in vivo study of Libby amphibole aerosol

Background Exposure to asbestos is associated with malignant and nonmalignant respiratory disease. To strengthen the scientific basis for risk assessment on fibers, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has initiated a series of studies to address fundamental questions on the toxicology of naturally occurring asbestos and related mineral fibers after inhalation exposure. A prototype nose-only exposure system was previously developed and validated. The prototype system was expanded to a large-scale exposure system in this study for conducting subsequent in vivo rodent inhalation studies of Libby amphibole (LA) 2007, selected as a model fiber. Results The exposure system consisting of six exposure carousels was able to independently deliver stable LA 2007 aerosol to individual carousels at target concentrations of 0 (control group), 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, or 10 mg/m3. A single aerosol generator was used to provide aerosol to all carousels to ensure that exposure atmospheres were chemically and physically similar, with aerosol concentration as the only major variable among the carousels. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis of aerosol samples collected at the exposure ports indicated the fiber dimensions, chemical composition, and mineralogy were equivalent across exposure carousels and were comparable to the bulk LA 2007 material. Conclusion The exposure system developed is ready for use in conducting nose-only inhalation toxicity studies of LA 2007 in rats. The exposure system is anticipated to have applicability for the inhalation toxicity evaluation of other natural mineral fibers of concern.

147 Human Lung Organoids Predict Response to Carbon-Based Nanomaterials and Model Pulmonary Fibrosis

Abstract Advances in in-vitro culture systems have stimulated an interest in more reliable testing approaches that predict nanomaterial toxicity. Lung organoids are one example, and display functions consistent with their in-vivo counterparts. Organoids have been used in a variety of applications, but studies have yet to interrogate their suitability for nanomaterial testing. Here, we report the step-wise development of multilineage lung organoids, and validate their potential as tools for predicting pulmonary toxicity of carbon-based nanomaterials. After 50-days of differentiation, the lung organoids exhibited the six major proximal (goblet/basal/club/ciliated) and distal (AECI/II) epithelial cell types of the adult lung. Using microinjection, we developed an exposure model to exploit the airspace-like lumen of the organoids for cargo delivery. We compared the impact of small nanometric (50-950nm, sGO) and large micrometric (4-41µm, lGO) graphene oxide sheets, with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (1-20µm, MWCNT) on lung organoids after 1/7/28d exposure. Consistent with in-vivo data, sGO and lGO exhibited a transient interaction with the alveolar epithelium, and did not induce any histoarchitectural changes indicative of fibrosis. Organoids did however produce 2.5-fold more mucins in response to lGO than sGO exposure, suggesting that a thicker mucin barrier is required to prevent lGO-induced damage. In contrast, MWCNT caused detrimental effects on organoid architecture. Its persistent interaction with the alveolar epithelium led to a pro-fibrotic phenotype, where MWCNT caused AECII to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition. With further development, our model may reduce the need for rodent inhalation studies in the assessment of lung toxicity.

Risk assessment for irritating chemicals - Derivation of extrapolation factors.

Irritation of the eyes and the upper respiratory tract are important endpoints for setting guide values for chemicals. To optimize the use of the often-limited data, we analysed controlled human exposure studies (CHS) with 1-4h inhalation of the test substance, repeated dose inhalation studies in rodents, and Alarie-Tests and derived extrapolation factors (EF) for exposure duration, inter- and intraspecies differences. For the endpoint irritating effects in the respiratory tract in rodents, geometric mean (GM) values of 1.9 were obtained for the EF for subacute→subchronic (n=16), 2.1 for subchronic→chronic (n=40), and 2.9 for subacute→chronic (n=10) extrapolation. Based on these data we suggest an EF of 2 for subchronic→chronic and of 4 for subacute→chronic extrapolation. In CHS, exposure concentration determines the effects rather than exposure duration. Slight reversible effects during 4h exposure indicate that an EF of 1 can be considered for assessing chronic exposures. To assess species extrapolation, 10 chemicals were identified with both, reliable rat inhalation studies and CHS. The GM of the ratio between the No Observed Adverse Effect Concentration (NOAEC) in rats and humans was 2.3 and increased to 3.6 when expanding the dataset to all available EF (n=25). Based on these analyses, an EF of 3 is suggested to extrapolate from a NOAEC in a chronic rat study to a NOAEC in a CHS. The analysis of EFs for the extrapolation from a 50% decrease in respiratory frequency in the Alarie test in mice (RD50) to a NOAEC in a CHS resulted in a GM of 40, for both, the reliable (n=11) and the overall dataset (n=19). We propose to use the RD50 from the Alarie test for setting guide values and to use 40 as EF. Efs for intraspecies differences in the human population must account for susceptible persons, most importantly for persons with chemical intolerance (CI), who show subjective signs of irritation at low concentrations. The limited data available do not justify to deviate from an EF of 10 - 20 as currently used in different regulatory settings.

Carcinogenicity of Styrene

Styrene is a high production volume chemical primarily used to produce polystyrene polymers and it is found in workplace air in the reinforced plastics industry. Styrene is also present in tobacco smoke, and in air pollution. In March 2018, a Working Group of leading scientists from 24 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, to re-evaluate the carcinogenicity of styrene (in addition to styrene-7,8-oxide and quinolone, not addressed here), based on published human, animal and mechanistic data. The most informative epidemiological studies were occupational cohort studies conducted in different countries in the reinforced plastics industry, suggesting that exposure to styrene causes lymphohaematopoietic malignancies, with higher consistency in the evidence for leukaemias and in particular myeloid leukaemia. However, confounding by other co-occurring occupational exposures such as butadiene, or the presence of biases or chance due to, for example, small sample sizes could not be ruled out. Evidence in humans for other cancer sites, including lung cancer, was sparse or inconsistent. Inhalation studies in rodents showed increased risk for different types of tumours in both sexes. A large body of mechanistic evidence showed that styrene is rapidly absorbed, distributed and metabolized in humans, potentially leading to genotoxic effects in exposed humans and it can modulate receptor-mediated effects and cell proliferation in various human cell lines and animal models. The conclusion of this evaluation of styrene regarding its carcinogenicity in humans is currently under embargo due to publication in The Lancet Oncology, but results will be presented in full at the time of the ISEE meeting.

Upper respiratory tract nociceptor stimulation and stress response following acute and repeated Cyfluthrin inhalation in normal and pregnant rats: Physiological rat-specific adaptions can easily be misunderstood as adversities

This paper reviews the results from past regulatory and mechanistic inhalation studies in rats with the type II pyrethroid Cyfluthrin. Apart from many chemical irritants, Cyfluthrin was shown to be a neuroexcitatory agent without any inherent tissue-destructive or irritant property. Thus, any Cyfluthrin-induced neuroexcitatory afferent sensory stimulus from peripheral nociceptors in the upper respiratory tract is likely to be perceived as a transient stimulus triggering annoyance and/or avoidance by both rats and humans. However, while thermolabile rats respond to such stresses reflexively, homeothermic humans appear to respond psychologically. With this focus in mind, past inhalation studies in rats and human volunteers were reevaluated and assessed to identify common denominators to such neuroexcitatory stimuli upon inhalation exposure. This analysis supports the conclusion that the adaptive physiological response occurring in rats secondary to such chemosensory stimuli requires inhalation exposures above the chemosensory threshold. Rats, a species known to undergo adaptively a hibernation-like physiological state upon environmental stresses, experienced reflexively-induced bradypnea, bradycardia, hypothermia, and changes in acid-base status during inhalation exposure. After cessation of the sensory stimulus, rapid recovery occurred. Physiological data of male and female rats from a 4-week repeated inhalation study (exposure 6-h/day, 5-times/week) were used to select concentration for a 10-day developmental inhalation toxicity study in pregnant rats. Maternal hypothermia and hypoventilation were identified as likely cause of fetal and placental growth retardations because of a maternal adaptation-driven reduced feto-placental transfer of oxygen. In summary, maternal reflex-hypothermia, reduced cardiac output and placental perfusion, and disruption of the gestation-related hyperventilation are believed to be the maternally mediated causes for developmental impairments. Thus, inhaled chemosensory substances may appear to be more toxic in rats than they will be in humans because the thermoregulatory response of rats to such stimuli can cause profound physiological adaptions that can easily be misunderstood as adversities in conventional inhalation studies in small rodents. The afferent threshold triggering such outcomes in rodents translate to perceptions of annoyance in humans. Consequently, hazard characterization and human risk assessment need to be focused on the chemosensory threshold rather than endpoints occurring downstream to rodent-specific homeostasis.

Particle-induced Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis and Subsequent Inflammation and Fibrosis: A Toxicologic and Pathologic Review.

This review analyzes the published data on cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) in workers inhaling crystalline aluminum, indium, silicon, and titanium particles and possible sequelae, that is, inflammation and fibrosis, and compares these findings with those from animal experiments. In inhalation studies in rodents using crystalline indium and gallium compounds, pronounced PAP followed by inflammation and fibrosis down to very low concentration ranges have been reported. Crystalline aluminum, silicon, and titanium compounds also induced comparable pulmonary changes in animals, though at higher exposure levels. Laboratory animal species appear to react to the induction of PAP with varying degrees of sensitivity. The sensitivity of humans to environmental causes of PAP seems to be relatively low. Up to now, no cases of PAP, or other pulmonary diseases in humans, have been described for gallium compounds. However, a hazard potential can be assumed based on the results of animal studies. Specific particle properties, responsible for the induction of PAP and its sequelae, have not been identified. This review provides indications that, both in animal studies and in humans, PAP is not often recognized due to the absence of properly directed investigation or is concealed behind other forms of lung pathology.

Fullerenes: Characteristics of the substance, biological effects and occupational exposure levels

Fullerenes are molecules composed of an even number of carbon atoms of a spherical or an ellipsoidal, closed spatial structure. The most common fullerene is the C60 molecule with a spherical structure - a truncated icosahedron, compared to a football. Fullerenes are widely used in the diagnostics and medicine, but also in the electronics and energy industry. Occupational exposure to fullerene may occur during its production. The occupational concentrations of fullerenes reached 0.12-1.2 μ/m3 for nanoparticles fraction (< 100 nm), which may evidence low exposure levels. However, fullerene mostly agglomerates into larger particles. Absorption of fullerene by oral and respiratory routes is low, and it is not absorbed by skin. After intravenous administration, fullerene accumulates mainly in the liver but also in the spleen and the kidneys. In animal experiments there was no irritation or skin sensitization caused by fullerene, and only mild irritation to the eyes. Fullerene induced transient inflammation in the lungs in inhalation studies in rodents. Oral exposure does not lead to major adverse effects. Fullerene was not mutagenic, genotoxic or carcinogenic in experimental research. However, fullerene may cause harmful effects on the mice fetus when administered intraperitoneally or intravenously. Pristine C60 fullerene is characterized by poor absorption and low toxicity, and it does not pose a risk in the occupational environment. The authors of this study are of the opinion that there is no ground for estimating the maximum allowable concentration (NDS) of pristine fullerene C60. Fullerene derivatives, due to different characteristics, require separate analysis in terms of occupational risk assessment. Med Pr 2016;67(3):397-410.

Inhalation Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and Carbon Nanofibers (CNF): Methodology and Dosimetry

Dedicated to Professor Paul Morrow, 1922–2013In respectful and fond memory of a devoted scientist, inspirationalcolleague, caring mentor, selfless friend, and in gratitudefor his lasting groundbreaking contributions to inhalation toxicologyCarbon nanotubes (CNT) and nanofibers (CNF) are used increasingly in a broad array of commercial products. Given current understandings, the most significant life-cycle exposures to CNT/CNF occur from inhalation when they become airborne at different stages of their life cycle, including workplace, use, and disposal. Increasing awareness of the importance of physicochemical properties as determinants of toxicity of CNT/CNF and existing difficulties in interpreting results of mostly acute rodent inhalation studies to date necessitate a reexamination of standardized inhalation testing guidelines. The current literature on pulmonary exposure to CNT/CNF and associated effects is summarized; recommendations and conclusions are provided that address test guideline modifications for rodent inhalation studies that will improve dosimetric extrapolation modeling for hazard and risk characterization based on the analysis of exposure-dose-response relationships. Several physicochemical parameters for CNT/CNF, including shape, state of agglomeration/aggregation, surface properties, impurities, and density, influence toxicity. This requires an evaluation of the correlation between structure and pulmonary responses. Inhalation, using whole-body exposures of rodents, is recommended for acute to chronic pulmonary exposure studies. Dry powder generator methods for producing CNT/CNF aerosols are preferred, and specific instrumentation to measure mass, particle size and number distribution, and morphology in the exposure chambers are identified. Methods are discussed for establishing experimental exposure concentrations that correlate with realistic human exposures, such that unrealistically high experimental concentrations need to be identified that induce effects under mechanisms that are not relevant for workplace exposures. Recommendations for anchoring data to results seen for positive and negative benchmark materials are included, as well as periods for postexposure observation. A minimum data set of specific bronchoalveolar lavage parameters is recommended. Retained lung burden data need to be gathered such that exposure-dose-response correlations may be analyzed and potency comparisons between materials and mammalian species are obtained considering dose metric parameters for interpretation of results. Finally, a list of research needs is presented to fill data gaps for further improving design, analysis, and interpretation and extrapolation of results of rodent inhalation studies to refine meaningful risk assessments for humans.

Development of an In Vitro Model to Assess Deposition of Aerosol Particles in a Representative Replica of the Rat's Respiratory Tract

Small rodents continue to be the mainstay for the assessment of pharmacological and toxicological data of inhaled therapeutics. For meaningful interpretation of the results information about deposition of aerosol particles in the respiratory tract is warranted, but not trivial to obtain for animals with nose-only aerosol exposure. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a general method to characterize the deposition of inhaled test particles in an in vitro model (IVR) of the rat's respiratory tract. A highly detailed, realistic and representative image using micro-CT scanning technology was obtained and the generated morphological data was used to construct a plastic replica of the average rat respiratory tract. The model was connected to a rodent ventilator, which allowed the breathing frequency (f, min(-1)) and tidal volume (V(T), mL) to be varied as required. Polydisperse fluorescent microsphere particles with an average mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 3.1 μm and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 2.2 μm were used as model compound. Comparison of the experimental data for total and regional deposition levels with predicted outputs using the in silico MPPD model showed reasonably good relative agreement between the two models. The predictions were closest to the experimental values when default respiratory conditions of f=102 breaths/min and V(T) of 2.0 mL were used. Moreover, the IVR model revealed good correlation with published in vivo data. Using the IVR model allows an easy, fast and reasonably precise estimation of the inhaled dose in rodent inhalation studies. The IVR has the potential to be used along with live rats in inhalation exposure studies, and thus provides the unique possibility to run an internal standard for dose deposition in the respiratory tract in each inhalation experiment. This should contribute to enable a greater understanding of drug pharmacokinetics and dynamics in rats and may improve dose extrapolation from animals to humans.

A comprehensive evaluation of the toxicology of cigarette ingredients: aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids

Context: Aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids are present in tobacco and tobacco smoke.Objective: A battery of tests was used to compare the toxicity of mainstream smoke from experimental cigarettes containing eight aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids and the salt of one acid that were added individually at three different levels (lowest and highest target inclusions were 100 and 90,000 ppm, respectively).Materials and methods: Mainstream smoke from cigarettes containing each of the test ingredients was evaluated using analytical chemistry and assays to measure in vitro cytotoxicity (neutral red uptake) and Salmonella (five strains) mutagenicity. For four of the compounds (citric, lactic, benzoic acids, and sodium benzoate), 90-day rodent inhalation studies were also performed.Results: Although sporadic statistically significant differences in some experimental cigarette smoke constituents occurred, none resulted in significant changes in mutagenicity or cytotoxicity responses, nor in responses measured in the inhalation studies, except for lactic acid (LA). Inclusion of LA resulted in dose-dependent increase in water and caused a dose-dependent decrease in cytotoxicity. Incorporation of LA into cigarettes resulted in several dose-related reductions in histopathology, which were largely restricted to the nasal passages. Incorporation of LA also ameliorated some of the typical decrease in body weight gain seen in cigarette smoke-exposed rats.Conclusions: Inclusion of these ingredients at exaggerated use levels resulted in sporadic dose-related and treatment effects for some smoke constituents, but no toxicological response was noted in the in vitro and in vivo tests performed.

A 3-dimensional in vitro model of epithelioid granulomas induced by high aspect ratio nanomaterials

BackgroundThe most common causes of granulomatous inflammation are persistent pathogens and poorly-degradable irritating materials. A characteristic pathological reaction to intratracheal instillation, pharyngeal aspiration, or inhalation of carbon nanotubes is formation of epithelioid granulomas accompanied by interstitial fibrosis in the lungs. In the mesothelium, a similar response is induced by high aspect ratio nanomaterials, including asbestos fibers, following intraperitoneal injection. This asbestos-like behaviour of some engineered nanomaterials is a concern for their potential adverse health effects in the lungs and mesothelium. We hypothesize that high aspect ratio nanomaterials will induce epithelioid granulomas in nonadherent macrophages in 3D cultures.ResultsCarbon black particles (Printex 90) and crocidolite asbestos fibers were used as well-characterized reference materials and compared with three commercial samples of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Doses were identified in 2D and 3D cultures in order to minimize acute toxicity and to reflect realistic occupational exposures in humans and in previous inhalation studies in rodents. Under serum-free conditions, exposure of nonadherent primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages to 0.5 μg/ml (0.38 μg/cm2) of crocidolite asbestos fibers or MWCNTs, but not carbon black, induced macrophage differentiation into epithelioid cells and formation of stable aggregates with the characteristic morphology of granulomas. Formation of multinucleated giant cells was also induced by asbestos fibers or MWCNTs in this 3D in vitro model. After 7-14 days, macrophages exposed to high aspect ratio nanomaterials co-expressed proinflammatory (M1) as well as profibrotic (M2) phenotypic markers.ConclusionsInduction of epithelioid granulomas appears to correlate with high aspect ratio and complex 3D structure of carbon nanotubes, not with their iron content or surface area. This model offers a time- and cost-effective platform to evaluate the potential of engineered high aspect ratio nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, nanorods and metallic nanowires, to induce granulomas following inhalation.

Review of mechanistic studies relevant to the potential carcinogenicity of asphalts

Heating of asphalts to facilitate use in paving and roofing applications produces fumes containing polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC). Regulatory organizations have suggested asphalt fumes of concern to humans due to possible carcinogenic effects but data are inadequate to classify. Two-year rodent inhalation studies and recent European epidemiology research have shown that asphalt fume alone does not pose a carcinogenic risk to humans. Dermal exposure to asphalt fume condensate have produced skin tumors in mouse skin painting studies but no skin cancer studies in humans have been reported occupationally. Mechanistic research explores underlying processes to assess relevance of findings in animals to humans. DNA adducts are useful as biological dosimeters of exposure, but DNA repair processes, lack of correlation with more definitive genotoxic and cancer results in animals and humans limits reliability as a predictor of carcinogenic hazard. Inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication and stimulation of intracellular signaling by asphalt fume condensate can relate to tumor development. Up and down-regulation of expression in genes involved in the metabolism and action of asphalt fume demonstrates intrinsic activity at the cellular level but changes were inconsistent. The relationship of reported effects on the immune system to carcinogenesis is unclear. Overall, results of mechanistic studies provide insights into biological activity from asphalt fume exposure but compositional differences, level of human exposure and detoxification processes must be considered in translating these findings to cancer risk.

Generation and characterization of stable, highly concentrated titanium dioxide nanoparticle aerosols for rodent inhalation studies

The intensive use of nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles in many different applications necessitates studies on their risk assessment as there are still open questions on their safe handling and utilization. For reliable risk assessment, the interaction of TiO2 nanoparticles (NP) with biological systems ideally needs to be investigated using physico-chemically uniform and well-characterized NP. In this article, we describe the reproducible production of TiO2 NP aerosols using spark ignition technology. Because currently no data are available on inhaled NP in the 10–50 nm diameter range, the emphasis was to generate NP as small as 20 nm for inhalation studies in rodents. For anticipated in vivo dosimetry analyses, TiO2 NP were radiolabeled with 48V by proton irradiation of the titanium electrodes of the spark generator. The dissolution rate of the 48V label was about 1% within the first day. The highly concentrated, polydisperse TiO2 NP aerosol (3–6 × 106 cm−3) proved to be constant over several hours in terms of its count median mobility diameter, its geometric standard deviation, and number concentration. Extensive characterization of NP chemical composition, physical structure, morphology, and specific surface area was performed. The originally generated amorphous TiO2 NP were converted into crystalline anatase TiO2 NP by thermal annealing at 950 °C. Both crystalline and amorphous 20-nm TiO2 NP were chain agglomerated/aggregated, consisting of primary particles in the range of 5 nm. Disintegration of the deposited TiO2 NP in lung tissue was not detectable within 24 h.

Flexible Low-Cost System for Small Animal Aerosol Inhalation Exposure to Drugs, Proteins, Inflammatory Agents, and Infectious Agents

The design for a simple, low-cost aerosol generation system for rodent inhalation studies is described here. This system is appropriate for low biohazard-level agents. In this study, two biosafety level 2 agents, Pasturella pneumotropica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were tested successfully. This system was also used to immunize mice and guinea pigs in ovalbumin-based models of pulmonary inflammation. This design is appropriate for studies with limited budgets and lower-level biosafety containment.

Validation of a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the quantification of aerosolized Jet Propellant 8

Jet Propellant 8 (JP-8) jet fuel is a kerosene-based fuel containing hundreds of hydrocarbons used by the military in NATO countries. Previous rodent inhalation studies carried out with aerosolized JP-8 never evaluated the exposure chamber atmosphere. For this reason, our laboratory developed an analytical method, with an accuracy of better than 80% and precision of better than 20%, for JP-8 aerosol and vapor samples using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A method was developed for quantification of selected individual components of JP-8 and for the total amount of JP-8 in aerosolized fuel. A 34 component surrogate hydrocarbon mixture (SHM) was developed and used for simultaneous analysis of the individual components. Three separate runs containing a standard curve and five replicates each at the selected concentrations were analyzed for both the SHM and neat JP-8. The resulting interday accuracy (100 − percent relative error) and precision (relative standard deviation) values for the SHM were 86.5% or better and 8.0% or better, respectively. The intraday accuracy and precision values ranged from 99.29% to 84.50% and 0.97% to 12.4%, respectively. For the total amount of JP-8 in aerosol and vapor, the interday accuracy was 83.7% or better and interday precision was 7.0% or better. The intraday accuracy and precision values ranged from 94.8% to 80.4% and 2.4% to 10.5%, respectively. We then used this method to analyze samples collected from an inhalation chamber. From the data obtained, we are able to account for approximately 40–44% of the mass of the aerosol portion and 68–70% of the mass of the vapor portion. The aerosol represented 6–10% of the total mass of the aerosolized JP-8 fuel with the remaining portion being the vapor. From these experiments individual components were identified for further in vivo and in vitro toxicological testing.

Manganese Dosimetry: Species Differences and Implications for Neurotoxicity

Manganese (Mn) is an essential mineral that is found at low levels in food, water, and the air. Under certain high-dose exposure conditions, elevations in tissue manganese levels can occur. Excessive manganese accumulation can result in adverse neurological, reproductive, and respiratory effects in both laboratory animals and humans. In humans, manganese-induced neurotoxicity (manganism) is the overriding concern since affected individuals develop a motor dysfunction syndrome that is recognized as a form of parkinsonism. This review primarily focuses on the essentiality and toxicity of manganese and considers contemporary studies evaluating manganese dosimetry and its transport across the blood–brain barrier, and its distribution within the central nervous system (CNS). These studies have dramatically improved our understanding of the health risks posed by manganese by determining exposure conditions that lead to increased concentrations of this metal within the CNS and other target organs. Most individuals are exposed to manganese by the oral and inhalation routes of exposure; however, parenteral injection and other routes of exposure are important. Interactions between manganese and iron and other divalent elements occur and impact the toxicokinetics of manganese, especially following oral exposure. The oxidation state and solubility of manganese also influence the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of manganese. Manganese disposition is influenced by the route of exposure. Rodent inhalation studies have shown that manganese deposited within the nose can undergo direct transport to the brain along the olfactory nerve. Species differences in manganese toxicokinetics and response are recognized with nonhuman primates replicating CNS effects observed in humans while rodents do not. Potentially susceptible populations, such as fetuses, neonates, individuals with compromised hepatic function, individuals with suboptimal manganese or iron intake, and those with other medical states (e.g., pre-parkinsonian state, aging), may have altered manganese metabolism and could be at greater risk for manganese toxicity.

PHYSIOLOGICALLY BASED PHARMACOKINETIC MODELING OF STYRENE AND STYRENE OXIDE RESPIRATORY-TRACT DOSIMETRY IN RODENTS AND HUMANS

Styrene (ST) is widely used to manufacture resins, glass-reinforced plastics, and a number of commercially important polymers (Miller et al., 1994). Chronic ST inhalation studies in rodents have demonstrated unique species specificity in the resulting pulmonary toxicity and carcinogenicity. Increased incidences of pulmonary bronchioloalveolar tumors have been observed in mice, but not in rats. No other tumor type was increased significantly in either species. Clara cells lining the respiratory epithelium metabolize ST to styrene 7,8-oxide (SO), which is cytotoxic and weakly genotoxic. Rodent species show marked differences in the distribution and regional density of Clara cells within the respiratory tract, as well as in their capacity to produce and eliminate SO. A mode of action-based physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to predict the concentration of ST and SO in blood, liver, and the respiratory-tract tissues, particularly in terminal bronchioles (target tisue), in order to conduct interspecies extrapolations and determine the extent to which there is a pharmacokinetic basis for the observed species specificity. This PBPK model has a multicompartment description of the respiratory tract and incorporates species-specific quantitative information on respiratory-tract physiology, cellular composition, and metabolic capacity. The model is validated against multiple data sets, including blood, liver, and whole lung tissue concentration of ST and SO following multiple routes of exposure. The trend in neoplastic incidences in mice correlated well with model-estimated SO concentration in the terminal bronchioles. The PBPK model predicts a 10-fold lower SO concentration in the terminal bronchioles in rats compared to mice, which is consistent with the observed species sensitivity to the development of respiratory-tract neoplasms. The model-based analysis suggests that humans would be expected to be 100-fold less sensitive to ST-inducted lung tumors than mice, based on pharmacokinetic differences. Pharmacodynamic factors are also expected to contribute to species sensitivity, potentially augmenting pharmacokinetics-based differences.

Interspecies Comparisons of the Toxicity of Asbestos and Synthetic Vitreous Fibers: A Weight-of-the-Evidence Approach

This analysis reviews the available literature on interspecies comparisons of the toxicity of asbestos and synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs). This topic is of substantial practical importance because most quantitative risk analyses on the effects of inhalation of SVFs are based upon extrapolation of data from rodent inhalation studies. Available information on interspecies comparisons for both dosimetry (the relation between exposure concentration and fiber lung burden) and potency (the relation between lung burden and disease) is summarized. Dosimetry models indicate that, on a normalized basis, fiber deposition and clearance rates are lower in humans than rats. Potency is less well understood than dosimetry, in part because the source of relevant human data is asbestos studies, which are adequate to demonstrate hazard, but are problematic in other regards. There are significant interspecies differences between the mouse, hamster, rat, and human. The available evidence suggests that the rat is preferable as a model for the human. Rats develop fibrosis at comparable lung burdens [10 6 long (>20μm length) fibers per gram of dry lung] to those in humans. This analysis concludes that, on a weight-of-evidence basis, there is no reason to conclude that humans are more sensitive to fibers than rats with respect to the development of lung cancer.

Synthetic Vitreous Fibers: A Review of Toxicology Research and Its Impact on Hazard Classification

Because the inhalation of asbestos, a naturally occurring, inorganic fibrous material, is associated with lung fibrosis and thoracic cancers, concerns have been raised about the possible health effects of synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs). SVFs include a very broad variety of inorganic fibrous materials with an amorphous molecular structure. Traditionally, SVFs have been divided into three subcategories based on composition: fiberglass, mineral wool (rock, stone, and slag wools), and refractory ceramic fiber. For more than 50 years, the toxicologic potential of SVFs has been researched extensively using human epidemiology and a variety of laboratory studies. Here we review the research and its impact on hazard classification and regulation of SVFs.Large, ongoing epidemiology studies of SVF manufacturing workers have provided very little evidence of harmful effects in humans. Several decades of research using rodents exposed by inhalation have confirmed that SVF pulmonary effects are determined by the “Three D's”, fiber dose (lung), dimension, and durability. Lung dose over time is determined by fiber deposition and biopersistence in the lung. Deposition is inversely related to fiber diameter. Biopersistence is directly related to fiber length and inversely related to fiber dissolution and fragmentation rates. Inhaled short fibers are cleared from the lung relatively quickly by mobile phagocytic cells, but long fibers persist until they dissolve or fragment. In contrast to asbestos, most of the SVFs tested in rodent inhalation studies cleared rapidly from the lung (were nonbiopersistent) and were innocuous. However, several relativley biopersistent SVFs induced chronic inflammation, lung scarring (fibrosis), and thoracic neoplasms. Thus, biopersistence of fibers is now generally recognized as a key determinant of the toxicologic potential of SVFs. In vitro dissolution of fibers in simulated extracellular fluid correlates fairly well with fiber biopersistence in the lung and pulmonary toxicity, but several exceptions suggest that biopersistence involves more than dissolution rate.Research demonstrating the relationship between biopersistence and SVF toxicity has provided a scientific basis for hazard classification and regulation of SVFs. For a nonhazardous classification, legislation recently passed by the European Union requires a respirable insulation wool to have a low lung-biopersistence or be noncarcinogenic in laboratory rats. U.S. fiberglass and mineral wool industries and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) have formed a voluntary Health and Safety Partnership Program (HSPP) that include: a voluntary permissible exposure level (PEL) in the workplace of 1 fiber/cc, a respiratory protection program for specified tasks, continued workplace air monitoring, and, where possible, the development of fiber formulations that do not persist in the lung. RCF manufacturers have implemented a Product Stewardship Program that includes: a recommended exposure guideline of 0.5 fibers/cc; a 5-year workplace air monitoring program; and research into the development of high-temperature-resistant, biosoluble fibers.