Pulmonary host defense responses to inhalation of sulfuric acid and ozone

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Abstract
The effects of simultaneous exposure to ozone (O 3 ) and sulfuric acid [H 2 SO 4 , 0.23 μm volume median diameter (VMD)] and a single exposure to ultrafine ( 2 SO 4 under various conditions were studied using the infectivity/mortality and the ciliary beating frequency model systems. A 3‐h exposure to a combined aerosol of 196 μg O 3 /m 3 and 483 or 241 μg A 2 SO 4 /m 3 significantly increased the susceptibility of mice to a laboratory‐induced respiratory infection. However, exposure to 543 μg ultrafine H 2 SO 4 /m 3 for 2 h or 365 μg/m 3 2 h/d for 5 d did not significantly affect this parameter. Upper airway response, as measured by changes in hamster tracheal ciliary beating frequency, was not affected by either a 3‐h combined exposure to 196 μg O 3 /m 3 and 847 μg H 2 SO 4 /m 3 or a 2‐h exposure to 458 μg ultrafine H 2 SO 4 /m 3 .