Weeks Of Inhalation Exposure Research Articles

Genotoxicity as a toxicologically relevant endpoint to inform risk assessment: A case study with ethylene oxide.

The purpose of the present investigation is to analyze the in vivo genotoxicity dose–response data of ethylene oxide (EO) and the applicability of the derived point‐of‐departure (PoD) values when estimating permitted daily exposure (PDE) values. A total of 40 data sets were identified from the literature, and benchmark dose analyses were conducted using PROAST software to identify a PoD value. Studies employing the inhalation route of exposure and assessing gene or chromosomal mutations and chromosomal damage in various tissues were considered the most relevant for assessing risk from EO, since these effects are likely to contribute to adverse health consequences in exposed individuals. The PoD estimates were screened for precision and the values were divided by data‐derived adjustment factors. For gene mutations, the lowest PDE was 285 parts per trillion (ppt) based on the induction of lacI mutations in the testes of mice following 48 weeks of exposure to EO. The corresponding lowest PDE value for chromosomal mutations was 1,175 ppt for heritable translocations in mice following 8.5 weeks of EO exposure. The lowest PDE for chromosomal aberrations was 238 ppt in the mouse peripheral blood lymphocytes following 48 weeks of inhalation exposure. The diverse dose–response data for EO‐induced genotoxicity enabled the derivation of PoDs for various endpoints, tissues, and species and identified 238 ppt as the lowest PDE in this retrospective analysis.

Biological changes in C57BL/6 mice following 3 weeks of inhalation exposure to cigarette smoke or e-vapor aerosols

We compared early biological changes in mice after inhalation exposures to cigarette smoke or e-vapor aerosols (MarkTen® cartridge with Carrier, Test-1, or Test-2 formulations; 4% nicotine). Female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 3R4F cigarette smoke or e-vapor aerosols by nose-only inhalation for up to 4 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks. The 3R4F and e-vapor exposures were set to match the target nose port aerosol nicotine concentration (∼41 µg/L). Only the 3R4F group showed postexposure clinical signs such as tremors and lethargy. At necropsy, the 3R4F group had significant increases in lung weight and changes in bronchoalveolar lavage parameters, as well as microscopic findings in the respiratory tract. The e-vapor groups had minimal microscopic changes, including squamous metaplasia in laryngeal epiglottis, and histiocytic infiltrates in the lung (Test-2 group only). The 3R4F group had a higher incidence and severity of microscopic findings compared to any e-vapor group. Transcriptomic analysis also showed that the 3R4F group had the highest number of differentially expressed genes compared to Sham Control. Among e-vapor groups, Test-2 group had more differentially expressed genes but the magnitude of gene expression-based network perturbations in all e-vapor groups was ∼94% less than the 3R4F group. On proteome analysis in the lung, differentially regulated proteins were detected in the 3R4F group only. In conclusion, 3-weeks of 3R4F exposure induced molecular and microscopic changes associated with smoking-related diseases in the respiratory tract, while e-vapor exposures showed substantially reduced biological activities.

Oxidative DNA damage in the rat lung induced by intratracheal instillation and inhalation of nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles are widely used as useful industrial materials. Therefore, their possible adverse health effects must be appraised. We assessed and compared the oxidative DNA damage caused by four different nanoparticles (TiO2, NiO, ZnO and CeO2). The effects of the administration methods, intratracheal instillation and inhalation, were also evaluated. Rats were subjected to intratracheal instillations or 4 weeks of inhalation exposure to the nanoparticles, and the 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in the lung were analyzed by an HPLC-EC detector method. The 8-OHdG levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner with the inhalation of NiO. ZnO also increased the 8-OHdG levels with inhalation. In comparison with the control, the 8-OHdG levels were significantly and persistently higher with the CeO2 nanoparticle administration, by both intratracheal instillation and inhalation. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the 8-OHdG levels between the control and TiO2 nanoparticle-treated groups, with either intratracheal instillation or inhalation during the observation period. These results indicated that NiO, ZnO and CeO2 nanoparticles generate significant amounts of free radicals, and oxidative stress may be responsible for the lung injury caused by these nanoparticles. In addition, both intratracheal instillation and inhalation exposure induced similar tendencies of oxidative DNA damage with these nanoparticles.

Effects of Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride (DDAC) on Sprague-Dawley Rats after 13 Weeks of Inhalation Exposure

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is used in many types of biocidal products including tableware, carpets, humidifiers, and swimming pools, etc. In spite of increased chances of DDAC exposure through inhalation, studies on the inhalation toxicity of DDAC are not common even though the toxicity of DDAC might be significantly higher if it were to be administered through routes other than the respiratory system. DDAC aerosols were exposed to Sprague-Dawley rats in whole body exposure chambers for a duration of 13 weeks. The Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameters of the DDAC aerosol were 0.63 µm, 0.81 µm, and 1.65 µm, and the geometric standard deviations were 1.62, 1.65, and 1.65 in the low (0.11 ± 0.06 mg/m3), the middle (0.36 ± 0.20 mg/m3) and the high (1.41 ± 0.71 mg/m3) exposure groups, respectively. Body weight was confirmed to be clearly influenced by exposure to DDAC and mean body weight was approximately 35% lower in the high (1.41 ± 0.71 mg/m3) male group and 15% lower in the high (1.41 ± 0.71 mg/m3) female group compared to that of the control group. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid assay, the levels of albumin and lactate dehydrogenase had no effect on DDAC exposure. The lung weight increased for the middle (0.36 ± 0.20 mg/m3) and the high (1.41 ± 0.71 mg/m3) concentrations of the DDAC exposure group, and inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial pneumonia were partially observed in the lungs of the middle (0.36 ± 0.20 mg/m3) and the high (1.41 ± 0.71 mg/m3) exposure groups. However, severe histopathological symptoms, including proteinosis and/or fibrosis, were not found. Based on the results of the changes in the body weight and lung weight, it is considered that the NOAEL (no-observed adverse effect) level for the 13-week exposure duration is 0.11 mg/m3.

Effects of didecyldimethylammonium chloride on sprague-dawley rats after two weeks of inhalation exposure.

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is used for various purposes, such as a fungicide for coolants, an antiseptic for wood, and disinfectant for cleaning. Despite the increasing likelihood of DDAC inhalation, available data on its toxicity from inhalation are scarce. Therefore, this study was aimed at confirming the toxicity of DDAC after inhalation exposure for 2 wk. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to approximately 0.15 mg/m3, 0.6 mg/m3, and 3.6 mg/m3 DDAC aerosols in whole-body exposure chambers. After DDAC exposure for 2 wk, effects of DDAC on body weight, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and the lungs were verified. The mass median aerodynamic diameter of DDAC aerosols was 1.86 μm and the geometric standard deviation was 2.75. The concentrations of DDAC aerosols for the low, medium, and high groups were 0.15 ± 0.15 mg/m3, 0.58 ± 0.40 mg/m3, and 3.63 ± 1.56 mg/m3, respectively. Body weight gain was significantly influenced by DDAC exposure. In the high group, a body weight decrease of 2.6 g was observed, whereas a 25.8 g increase was observed in the normal control group after the first 3 days. The low and medium groups showed 23.3 g and 20.4 g increases, respectively, after the first 3 days. Decreases in body weight were recovered during the next 4 days. In contrast, no changes were noted in hematological and blood biochemistry parameters after DDAC exposure. Furthermore, only mild effects were observed on bronchoalveolar cell differentiation counts and cell damage parameters in the BAL fluids of the medium and high groups. Although inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial pneumonia were partially observed, fibrosis was not found in the lungs of the medium and high groups. In conclusion, body weight gain and the lungs were mainly affected by DDAC exposure. The noobserved-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for DDAC was determined as 0.15 mg/m3.

Genotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles in Lung Cells of Sprague Dawley Rats after 12 Weeks of Inhalation Exposure

Due to the widespread use of silver nanoparticles in consumer products, the toxicity of silver nanoparticles has also been studied in relation to their application. However, most genotoxicity studies of silver nanoparticles have been performed in vitro. Therefore, this study evaluated the DNA damage to lung cells caused by repeated inhalation of silver nanoparticles. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to silver nanoparticles for 12 weeks in a whole-body inhalation chamber. The animals were divided into one control group and three dose groups that were exposed to silver nanoparticles (14–15 nm diameter) at concentrations of 0.66 × 106 particles/cm3 (49 μg/m3, low dose), 1.41 × 106 particles/cm3 (117 μg/m3, middle dose), and 3.24 × 106 particles /cm3 (381 μg/m3, high dose), respectively, for six hours/day over 12 weeks. The rats were sacrificed after the 12-week exposure period and the DNA damage assessed using a Comet assay of cells obtained from the right lungs. The olive tail moment values were 2.93 ± 0.19, 3.81 ± 0.23, 3.40 ± 0.22, and 5.16 ± 0.32 for the control, low-, middle-, and high-dose groups, respectively. Although no dose-dependent results were observed, a significant increase in the level of DNA damage was noted for the high-dose group.

4-Week inhalation toxicity of 2-methylnaphthalene in experimental animals

This paper presents toxic effects of 2-MN in laboratory animals under conditions of 4-week inhalation exposure to 2-methylnaphthalene (2-MN) vapors. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 2-MN vapors at a nominal concentration of 0, 2, 10 or 50 mg/m(3) in dynamic inhalation chambers for 4 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week). After 4 weeks of inhalation exposure the animals were necropsied. Blood samples were collected and selected organs were weighted and prepared for histological examinations. The effects of the increased levels of exposure to 2-MN experienced by the experimental rats were as follows: a) increasing γ-glutamylotransferase activity, b) stimulation of the hematopoietic system, c) lower cholesterol concentrations, d) higher number of goblet cells in lobar bronchi, e) hyperplasia of hepatic bile ducts. Four-week exposure of the animals to 2-MN at 2 mg/m(3) proved to be the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL), while 10 mg/m(3) appeared to represent the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL).

Effects of ethylene on micronucleus formation in the bone marrow of rats and mice following four weeks of inhalation exposure

Male Fischer 344 rats and male B6C3F1 mice (10/species/group) were exposed to ethylene 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. The ethylene target concentrations were 0, 40, 1000, and 3000 ppm. An ethylene oxide (EO) control group for each species was exposed under the same conditions at a target concentration of 200 ppm. Bone marrow was collected approximately 24 h after the final exposure. Polychromatic erythrocyte (PCE) to normochromatic erythrocyte (NCE) ratios were determined and 2000 PCE/animal were scored for the presence of micronuclei. Ethylene did not produce statistically significant, exposure-related increases in the frequency of micronucleated PCE (MNPCE) in the bone marrow of either rats or mice when compared to air-exposed control animals. As expected, EO exposure resulted in significant increases in the frequencies of MNPCE in both species.

Effect of methylene chloride inhalation on replicative DNA synthesis in the lungs of female B6C3F1 mice.

In the National Toxicology Program 2-year inhalation study of dichloromethane (DCM), there was a significant increase in pulmonary neoplasms in female B6C3F1 mice exposed to 2000 ppm (overall rates of 30/48 versus 5/50 in control). Replicative DNA synthesis was examined to evaluate the potential role of treatment-induced lung cell proliferation on pulmonary carcinogenicity. Tritiated thymidine incorporation was assessed in methacrylate plastic sections after 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks of inhalation exposure to 2000 ppm or 8000 ppm DCM. Similar measurements of labeling indexes were made after 13 and 26 weeks of exposure to 2000 ppm DCM using bromodeoxyuridine as the labeling agent. In all cases the labeling agent was delivered over a 6-day period using osmotic minipumps. The labeling index (LI) of bronchiolar epithelium (two branches proximal to the terminal bronchiole) of mice exposed to 2000 ppm DCM for 2-26 weeks decreased to 40-60% of the control. Terminal bronchioles showed a similar decrease in LI. Mice exposed to 8000 ppm DCM had a less dramatic decrease in LI. No pathological change was found in the exposed lungs. It is concluded that inhalation exposure to DCM for up to 26 weeks reduces cell turnover of bronchiolar cells in female B6C3F1 mice.

Neurotoxicologic evaluation of rats after 13 weeks of inhalation exposure to dichloromethane or carbon monoxide

Male and female Fischer 344 rats were exposed to dichloromethane (methylene chloride, DCM) or carbon monoxide (CO) for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 13 weeks. Since oxidative metabolism of DCM to CO and CO 2 is a saturable process, DCM exposure concentrations were selected clearly below saturation (50 ppm), just below saturation (200 ppm), and well above saturation (2000 ppm). At saturation of metabolism, metabolic CO causes about 10% carboxyhemoglobinemia (COHb). Therefore, as a control for CO effects, a separate group of rats was exposed to 135 ppm CO to induce approximately 10% COHb. Postexposure functional tests included an observational battery, hindlimb grip strength, and a battery of evoked potentials (flash, auditory brainstem, somatosensory, caudal nerve). After functional tests were completed, rats from all groups were perfused with fixative and a comprehensive set of nervous tissues from the high DCM exposure group and from controls were examined by light microscopy. Although some miscellaneous functional and morphologic variations were recorded, none were related to treatment. Thus, subchronic exposures as high as 2000 ppm DCM or 135 ppm CO had no deleterious effects on any of the measures of this study.

Immunologic tolerance in rats during 13 weeks of inhalation exposure to trimellitic anhydride

Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) causes several immunologically based pulmonary syndromes in humans. We developed a rat model representative of some of those syndromes whereby rats exposed for 2 weeks to TMA by inhalation developed hemorrhagic lung foci and pneumonitis accompanied by the appearance of TMA-specific serum antibody. The purpose of the study reported here was to examine the long-term, low-dose effects of TMA inhalation. Rats were exposed to target concentrations of 0, 2, 15, or 50 μg/m 3 TMA 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks. The study included an interim 6.5-week termination and two recovery periods of 3 and 38 weeks, each with and without a final TMA inhalation challenge. Additional rats were bled regularly throughout the study and monitored for the appearance of TMA-specific antibody; other rats were terminated periodically during the 13-week exposure and examined for lung lesions. These serially terminated rats showed that TMA-induced lung lesions reached a maximum after approximately 2 weeks of exposure, but began to diminish thereafter. Rats bled regularly showed increasing TMA-specific antibody titers through the first 6 weeks of exposure, after which antibody titers diminished. Serum antibody levels rose sharply after the 13-week exposure ended and tapered off throughout the recovery period. Rats terminated after 6.5 weeks of exposure showed a dose-dependent increase in lung lesions and serum antibody. However, rats exposed to TMA for 13 weeks showed greatly reduced lung lesions and antibody titers. Rats exposed for 13 weeks and allowed to recover for 3 weeks showed increased antibody titers but few lesions, even after a TMA challenge. Rats exposed for 13 weeks and allowed to recover 38 weeks had reduced but still significant antibody titers; however, no lung lesions were noted even after a TMA inhalation challenge prior to termination. These results indicated that rats became tolerant to TMA and that 13 weeks of exposure to TMA did not produce lesions of any type, even after 38 weeks of recovery.

Immunologic Tolerance in Rats during 13 Weeks of Inhalation Exposure to Trimellitic Anhydride

Immunologic Tolerance in Rats during 13 Weeks of Inhalation Exposure to Trimellitic Anhydride

Multiple organ carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene in B6C3F1 mice after 60 weeks of inhalation exposure.

Groups of 50 male and 50 female B6C3F1 mice were exposed 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 60 to 61 weeks to air containing 0, 625, or 1250 parts per million 1,3-butadiene. These concentrations are somewhat below and slightly above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard of 1000 parts per million for butadiene. The study was designed for 104-week exposures but had to be ended early due to cancer-related mortality in both sexes at both exposure concentrations. There were early induction and significantly increased incidences of hemangiosarcomas of the heart, malignant lymphomas, alveolar-bronchiolar neoplasms, squamous cell neoplasms of the forestomach in males and females and acinar cell carcinomas of the mammary gland, granulosa cell neoplasms of the ovary, and hepatocellular neoplasms in females. Current workplace standards for exposure to butadiene should be reexamined in view of these findings.

2-Isocyanatoethyl Methacrylate - an Inhalation Dominant Lethal Study in the Male Sprague-Dawley Rat

2-Isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM), a monomer, has been developed for use as a component in coating materials. The dominant lethal test was used to evaluate the mutagenic potential of IEM in rats. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 25, 80, or 250 ppb of IEM by inhalation for 6 hr/day for 10 weeks (one spermatogenic cycle). After the exposure period, the males were bred with untreated virgin female rats. At approximately mid-gestation, the females were sacrificed and the number of corpora lutea, implantations, and resorptions were recorded. Statistical analysis of these data indicated that the treated males were comparable to control males in all reproductive parameters evaluated. IEM did not affect male fertility or produce dominant lethal mutations in male rats following ten weeks of inhalation exposure to 25, 80 or 250 ppb IEM.

2-Isocyanatoethyl methacrylate--an inhalation dominant lethal study in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.

2-Isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM), a monomer, has been developed for use as a component in coating materials. The dominant lethal test was used to evaluate the mutagenic potential of IEM in rats. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 25, 80, or 250 ppb of IEM by inhalation for 6 hr/day for 10 weeks (one spermatogenic cycle). After the exposure period, the males were bred with untreated virgin female rats. At approximately mid-gestation, the females were sacrificed and the number of corpora lutea, implantations, and resorptions were recorded. Statistical analysis of these data indicated that the treated males were comparable to control males in all reproductive parameters evaluated. IEM did not affect male fertility or produce dominant lethal mutations in male rats following ten weeks of inhalation exposure to 25, 80 or 250 ppb IEM.