The Action of Small Amounts of Quartz and Larger Amounts of Coal and Graphite on the Lungs of Rats

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An intratracheal injn. of a suspension of 100 mg. coal, 98 mg. coal + 2 mg. quartz, 100 mg. graphite, or 98 mg. graphite + 2 mg. quartz was used on rat groups. Particle size distr. and analysis of minerals tables are given. Pure coal gives rise to no serious reaction in the animal.lungs. Much of the coal is eliminated, and the amt. retained causes only slight reticulinosts. Small doses of quartz, which alone produce no lesion in the rats'' lungs, produce nodular foci of reticulinosis when large amts. of coal are added. The large amt. of coal probably upsets the drainage mechanism, and the retained Si in the lung exerts its toxic effect with the production of fibrous nodules. Pure graphite was as inert as pure coal; but fibrous nodules were produced when it was mixed with small amts. of Si.The simultaneous presence of large-amts. of coal or graphite exaggerated the pathogenic effects of small amts. of Si.