Effects of high exposure concentrations of inhaled low-toxicity dust on pulmonary function in guinea pigs

The acute pulmonary function response to graded levels of a low toxicity dust was studied in guinea pigs. Four groups of five male guinea pigs each were exposed to mean concentrations of 0, 0.25, 1.01 and 5.39 mg Foundry Hill Clay l-1 air with mass median aerodynamic diameters of 2.6, 4.6 and 6.7 microns, respectively. There was a 15-min pre-exposure period to clean air, a 1-h exposure to the test atmosphere and then a 1-h recovery period with exposure to clean air. Concentration-related changes, compared to the pre-exposure period, occurred with a rapid onset in a number of parameters. Generally, the severity of observed effects increased with exposure time and, therefore, with inhaled dose. Statistically significant changes (P < 0.05) were observed in tidal volume, dynamic compliance, dynamic resistance, flow, pressure and minute volume during the last 15 min of exposure. The observed changes were consistent with acute bronchoconstriction. These effects reversed rapidly and there were no significant changes 1 h post-exposure. These results suggest that adverse physiological responses of short duration can occur when animals are exposed via inhalation to low-toxicity materials in the concentration range 0.25-5 mg l-1.