PULMONARY RESPONSE TO GLASS-FIBER BY INHALATION EXPOSURE

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (2) , 123-133
Abstract
Rats, hamsters and guinea pigs were exposed to airborne glass fiber at a gravimetric concentration of 0.42 mg/l for 6 h/day, 5 days/wk for 80 days. The number of dust particles greater than 5 .mu.m in length was 0.73 .times. 106/l with an average diameter of approximately 1.2 .mu.m. Most particles were less than 2 .mu.m in size and only 15% of the dust particles had a fibrous shape. Few fibers were longer than 10 .mu.m. The pulmonary response was characterized by macrophage reaction with alveolar proteinosis at 90 days of inhalation. The light and ultrastructural alterations were similar to the other experimental or human alveolar proteinosis. The alveolar proteinosis disappeared at 1 yr postexposure, but focal dust cell accumulation with proliferating granular pneumocytes persisted throughout the 2-yr recovery period. No significant fibrosis or stromal changes were found in the dust-deposited areas. In hamsters and guinea pigs, most ferruginous bodies were developed from fibrous fibers but not from tiny dust particles. The tracheobronchial lymph nodes were markedly swollen and laden with dust cells.

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