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The pulmonary effects of long-term inhalation of potassium octatitanate whisker (PT1), one of the durable man-made fibers (MMFs), were examined in rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed to PT1 by inhalation for 6 h/day, 5 days/wk for 1 yr. The daily average exposure concentration of PT1 aerosol was 2.2 +/- 0.7 mg/m3 (111 +/- 34 fiber/ml) during the exposure. Rats were sacrificed at 3 days, 6 mo, and 12 mo after 1 yr of inhalation exposure. The amount of deposited PT1 in rat lungs (lung burden) was 2.4 +/- 0.7 mg and the deposition fraction was 7.2% at 3 days after 1 yr. The clearance of inhaled PT1 after 1-yr inhalation was prolonged so that the biological half-life time (BHT) was difficult to estimate. The histopathological findings showed that mild fibrotic changes were observed around the macrophages that had engulfed the PT1 in the 3-day, 6-mo, and 12-mo rat sacrifice groups. As for pulmonary tumors, no malignant tumors were observed, although 2 adenomas at 6 mo and 1 adenoma and 1 squamous metaplasia at 12 mo after the exposure were found in the rat lungs.

The Effect of Lung Burden on Biopersistence and Pulmonary Effects in Rats Exposed to Potassium Octatitanate Whiskers by Inhalation: Takako OYABU, et al. Institute of IndustrialEcological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan-The effect of lung burden on biopersistence and histopathological changes caused by potassium octatitanate whiskers (POW) which is one of the asbestos substitutes were investigated for 1-yr and 4-wk inhalation periods. In the 1-yr inhalation experiment, male Wistar rats were exposed to POW (TW) for 6 h/d, 5 d/wk under the same conditions as a previous study of POW (PT1, JFM fiber) which is made by different manufacturer. The exposure concentration was 1.9 ± 0.7 mg/m 3 and the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) in the chamber were 1.6 µm and 2.9. Rats were sacrificed at 3 d and 1 yr after the inhalation experiment and TW deposits in the lungs were determined by ICP-AES. Lung burden at 3 d and 1 yr after the inhalation was 2.39 ± 0.50 mg and 1.37 ± 0.96 mg, respectively, the deposition fraction was 8.1% and biological half time (BHT) was 15 months. Aggregated dust cells and mild fibrotic changes around these dust cells were observed in the exposed rat lung. These results were almost the same as those obtained in the previous 1-yr PT1 study. In the 4-wk inhalation experiment, to investigate the effect of lung burden on biopersistence and histopathological change, male Wistar rats were exposed to PT1. The exposure Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Yahatanishi, concentration was 102 ± 21 mg/m 3 , MMAD (GSD), the geometiric mean length and diameter (GSD) of the PT1 in the chamber were 1.6 µm (3.0), 2.2 µm (1.8) and 0.33 µm (1.5), respectively. Rats were sacrificed at 3 d, 1 wk, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the inhalation experiment. The lung burden of POW at 3 d after 4 wk inhalation was 1.49 ± 0.19 mg, which was close to the estimated amount of overload. The BHT of the total mass (4.1 months) was not prolonged, but aggregated dust cells were observed in the subpleural region and around the bronchioles and mild fibrotic changes were observed only around the dust cells at one year after the 4-wk inhalation. It is considered that the excessive exposure which impairs the function of alveolar macrophage mediated clearance may cause the aggregation of dust cells and fibrotic changes. It is well known that the inhalation of asbestos in the working environment leads to pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. With the prohibition of asbestos usage and advances in manufacturing technology, various kinds of asbestos substitutes are now being produced, but due to the fibrous nature of these substances similar to asbestos, their health effects should be investigated. One of these substitutes, potassium octatitanate whisker (POW), has two types, TW and PT1, which are made by different manufacturers. In order to examine whether the pulmonary effect of these POWs differ from maker to maker, we carried ...

In this study, eight kinds of nickel (Ni) compounds were orally administered to Wistar male rats and the distribution of each compound was investigated 24 h after the administration. The Ni compounds used in this experiment were nickel metal [Ni-M], nickel oxide (green) [NiO(G)], nickel oxide (black) [NiO(B)], nickel subsulfide [Ni3S2], nickel sulfide [NiS], nickel sulfate [NiSO4], nickel chloride [NiCl2], and nickel nitrate [Ni(NO3)2]. The solubilities of the nickel compounds in saline solution were in the following order; [Ni(NO3)2 > NiCl2 > NiSO4] >> [NiS > Ni3S2] > [NiO(B) > Ni-M > NiO(G)]. The Ni level in the visceral organs was higher in the rats given soluble Ni compounds; Ni(NO3)2, NiCl2, NiSO4, than that in the rats receiving other compounds. In the rats to which soluble Ni compounds were administered, 80-90% of the recovered Ni amounts in the examined organs was detected in the kidneys. On the other hand, the Ni concentration in organs administered scarcely soluble Ni compounds; NiO(B), NiO(G), and Ni-M were very low. The estimated absorbed fraction of each Ni compounds was increased with the increase of the solubility. These results suggest that the kinetic behavior of Ni compounds administered orally is closely related with the solubility of Ni compounds, and that the solubility of Ni compounds is one of the important factors for determining the health effect of Ni compounds.

Objective Real time monitoring of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) in rooms of Japanese university buildings was carried out to understand the temporal changes in actual indoor air quality. Methods The TVOC concentrations in seven different rooms, consisting of a lecture room, a seminar room, three laboratories, a computer room and a library, were monitored continuously for 24 h via a personal VOC monitor equipped with a semiconductor gas sensor. An active sampling-thermal desorption method using stainless steel tubes packed with Tenax-TA was also carried out simultaneously to verify the usability of the monitor. Results The TVOC concentrations measured by the personal VOC monitor were closely correlated with those measured by the active sampling method. The TVOC concentration in all rooms was generally low during the day and increased during the night. This concentration change corresponded to the ventilation cycle in the building. During the day, the TVOC concentration was generally lower than the provisional target criterion (advisable value) of indoor air quality in Japan (400 lg/m 3 ). During the night, however, it exceeded this criterion in several rooms, especially during the summer season. Conclusion The real-time monitor using a semiconductor gas sensor can provide useful data on changes in the TVOC concentration in indoor air with high sensitivity.