Early pneumotoxic effects after oral administration of 1,2-dichloroethane

Early biochemical and histological changes in rat lungs were investigated after oral administration of 136 mg/kg 1,2-dichloroethane in oleum solution. The experiment was performed using 80 male Wistar rats. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung homogenate were examined on posttreatment days 1, 5, 15, and 30. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the activities of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase were elevated on day 1. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, and the content of malondialdehyde in lung homogenate, were also increased on day 1. The histological investigation indicated congestion, edema, and lung interstitial inflammatory changes. It was concluded that oral administration of 1,2-dichloroethane causes mild-to-moderate transitory toxic injury of the lung. Lipid peroxidation and the levels of key antioxidant enzymes are increased in the earliest posttreatment period.