Concentrations of metal elements in mouse organs after intratracheal administration of coal fly ash

Size-density fractionated coal fly ash particles, 1-5 microns in diameter and 2.4-2.8 g/cm3 in density, were administered to mouse lungs intratracheally. The change in the concentrations of metal elements in the lungs, kidneys, livers and spleens was measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy up to 16 weeks after administration. In the lungs, each elemental concentration increased 1 week after administration and decreased thereafter with time after administration. For example, the concentrations of Al were 1018 +/- 272 micrograms/g tissue at 1 week and decreased thereafter to 556 +/- 177 micrograms/g tissue at 16 weeks after administration. The concentrations of Ca, Mn and Ni decreased more rapidly than the other elements, suggesting that Ca, Mn and Ni were dissociated from the alumino-silicate matrix of the fly ash particles in the lungs. In the kidneys, the concentration of Ni significantly increased at 2, 8 and 16 weeks after administration; the concentration of Ni showed an increase of 0.4 +/- 0.2 micrograms/g over the control mouse at 16 weeks after administration. In the livers, increased concentrations of Ca and Mn were observed at 2, 4 and 16 weeks. On the other hand, no changes in the concentrations of these elements were observed in the spleen.