Lung dust content and response in guinea pigs inhaling three forms of silica

Guinea pigs were exposed by inhalation to atmospheric suspensions of crystalline free silica (cristobalite), amorphous free silica (diatomaceous earth), and amorphous silicate (volcanic glass). Randomly selected animals were killed at 2-month intervals and their lungs were examined. Tissue samples were collected and analyzed for total silica content and total ash. Total silica content per lung increased linearly throughout at least 21 months in each experiment and total ash weight increased more rapidly than dust was accumulating. Crystalline silica produced a greater increment in ash weight that did the amorphous free silica and the silicate produced the least increase. Furthermore, although atmospheric dust concentrations were roughly comparable for the three preparations, the total amount of silica accumulated varied inversely with the degree of tissue damage occurring. Thus, the maximum total content of the crystalline silica reached only 68 mg per lung, while that of the amorphous silica and silicate was 120 mg and 465 mg, respectively. This suggests that a silicious dust that produces cell damage may be cleared more effectively from the lung than is an innocuous dust.