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The effects of B0, B20 and B100 soy biodiesel exhaust on aconitine-induced cardiac arrhythmia in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Citation:
Hazari, M., N. Coates, D. Winsett, C. King, Todd Krantz, Ian Gilmour, AND A. Farraj. The effects of B0, B20 and B100 soy biodiesel exhaust on aconitine-induced cardiac arrhythmia in spontaneously hypertensive rats. INHALATION TOXICOLOGY. Informa Healthcare USA, New York, NY, 27(11):557-563, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
This study describes the effects of soy biodiesel exhaust inhalation on cardiac arrhythmia sensitivity in rats and compares it petroleum diesel exhaust. The data suggests that exhaust from renewable fuel sources is less toxic than traditional fuel exhaust.
Description:
CONTEXT: Diesel exhaust (DE) has been shown to increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Although biodiesel has been proposed as a "safer" alternative to diesel, it is still uncertain whether it actually poses less threat.OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that exposure to pure or 20% soy biodiesel exhaust (BDE) would cause less sensitivity to aconitine-induced arrhythmia than DE in rats.METHODS: Spontaneous hypertensive (SH) rats implanted with radiotelemeters were exposed once or for 5d (4 h) to either 50 mg/m(3)(low), 150 mg/m(3) (medium), or 500 mg/m(3)(high) of DE (BO),20% (B20) or 100% (8100) soy biodiesel exhaust. Arrhythmogenesis was assessed 24h later by continuous infusion of aconitine, an arrhythmogenic drug, while heart rate (HR), and electrocardiogram (ECG) were monitored.RESULTS: Rats exposed once or for 5d to low, medium, or high BO developed arrhythmia at significantly lower doses of aconitine than controls, whereas rats exposed to B20 were only consistently sensitive after 5d of the high concentration. 8100 caused mild arrhythmia sensitivity at the low concentration, on after 5d of exposure at the medium concentration and after either a single or 5d at the high concentration.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that exposure to B20 causes less sensitivity to arrhythmia than BO and 8100. This diminished effect may be due to lower irritant components such as acrolein and nitrogen oxides. Thus, in terms of cardiac health, B20 may be a safer option than both of the pure forms.
