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INHALATION STUDIES OF MT. ST. HELENS VOLCANIC ASH IN ANIMALS. 2. LUNG FUNCTION, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND HISTOLOGY
Citation:
Raub, J., G. Hatch, R. Mercer, M. Grady, AND P. Hu. INHALATION STUDIES OF MT. ST. HELENS VOLCANIC ASH IN ANIMALS. 2. LUNG FUNCTION, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND HISTOLOGY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-85/129 (NTIS PB86100211), 1985.
Description:
Rats were exposed by inhalation to 9.4 mg/m3 size-fractionated volcanic ash for 5 days (2hr/day) and examined for changes in pulmonary function and histology for periods of up to 1 year. Fine-mode volcanic ash, SO2, and a combination of ash and SO2 produced no observable effects in normal rats and rats with elastase-induced emphysema. However, there was a mild irritant response to SO2 which was not influenced by the volcanic ash. Rats injected intratracheally with fine-mode volcanic ash or saline showed no evidence of pulmonary alterations after 6 months. Those injected with coarse-mode volcanic ash showed minor pulmonary functional changes, histologically detectable alveolitis, and small increases in lung weight. In contrast, quartz-injected rats showed large alterations in pulmonary function, lung weight, hydroxyproline levels, and large areas of lung consolidation and fibrosis. (Copyright (c) 1985, Academic Press, Inc.)