Comparative effects of inhaled volcanic ash and quartz in rats

To investigate the relative toxicities of inhaled volcanic ash and quartz, we exposed matched groups of rats to either respirable volcanic ash (100 mg/m3), quartz (100 mg/m3), or clean air only for 6 h daily for 10 days. Thereafter, we examined animals sequentially for as long as 9 months, and measured changes in lung histopathologic aspects, air-space cells and lipids, and lung density. Neutron activation studies demonstrated that 3.3% of the inhaled daily dose of volcanic ash was detectable in the lung parenchyma. Volcanic ash was less toxic to the lung than quartz. Immediately after exposure, the lungs of animals treated with volcanic ash had ultrastructural evidence of damage to type I pneumocytes and early alveolar edema formation. By contrast, quartz-treated animals had an intense acute injury, with intraalveolar accumulation of lipid, protein, macrophages, and granulocytes. Six months after exposure, animals treated with volcanic ash had moderate interstitial thickening and fibrosis, whereas the quartz-treated animals had severe pulmonary fibrosis. Quartz, but not volcanic ash, caused a marked increase in lavage granulocytes, protein, and phospholipids. Lung density increased in quartz-exposed, but not in volcanic-ash-exposed animals. These data indicate that volcanic ash is less harmful to the lung parenchyma than is quartz. Persons exposed to volcanic ash for short periods are at much less risk of subsequent lung damage than are those who are exposed to similar amounts of quartz in the workplace.