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Endotoxin in the environment--exposure and effects.

This review deals with endotoxin in the environment and its relation to disease among exposed persons. Data are presented on levels of endotoxin in different environments with maximum values of several microg/m(3). The cellular reactions of importance for inhalation exposure effects are attachment to lipopolysaccharide binding protein, CD14 cell surface protein and TLR-4 receptors. The internalisation of endotoxin in macrophages and endothelial cells results in local production of inflammatory cytokines with subsequent migration of inflammatory cells into the lung and the penetration of cytokines into the blood. These events orchestrate clinical effects in terms of toxic pneumonitis, airways' inflammation and systemic symptoms. Inhalation challenges with pure endotoxin and field studies confirm the relation between these effects and exposure to dusts containing endotoxin. It is possible that polymorphism in genes determining endotoxin reactivity, particularly TLR-4, influences the risk for disease after environmental exposures. Some data suggest that the inflammation caused by inhaled endotoxin may decrease the risk for atopic sensitisation among children and lung cancer among workers exposed to organic dust. Additional research is needed to clarify the role of other environmental agents that are present in connection with endotoxin, particularly (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan from mold cell walls.

Air Pollutants↗

Alteration in the modulatory role of respiratory epithelium after exposure of guinea pigs to respirable cotton dust.

Chest tightness may occur after inhalation of cotton dust. To understand the origins of this symptom of byssinosis, we exposed guinea pigs to respirable cotton dust and determined whether the resulting pulmonary obstruction was associated with alterations in the in vitro reactivity of the trachea to methacholine. The isolated, perfused trachea preparation was utilized because it allows a comparison of airway smooth muscle responses to drugs after they are applied separately to the mucosal or serosal surfaces. In epithelium-containing control tracheae, mucosally applied methacholine was less potent and elicited smaller maximum contractile responses than those obtained when it was applied to the serosal compartment. After a 6-h inhalation exposure to 30 mg/m3 respirable cotton dust, the mucosal maximum response to methacholine was substantially increased immediately (0 h) after the end of the exposure, but it was decreased 18 h postexposure. A dust level of 10 mg/m3 produced modest increases in the mucosal maximum responses at both postexposure periods, elevating them to the magnitude of the extraluminal maximum response. The potency of serosally applied methacholine was not affected by any cotton dust exposure. Mechanical epithelium removal increased mucosal reactivity to the serosal level in both control and cotton (30 mg/m3)-exposed groups, and abolished the effects of dust on mucosal reactivity to methacholine. Our findings suggest that the modulatory effect of the epithelium may be inhibitory or excitatory. The balance between the two influences may be altered by inhaled cotton dust.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Developmental toxicity evaluation of inhaled tertiary amyl methyl ether in mice and rats.

This evaluation was part of a much more comprehensive testing program to characterize the mammalian toxicity potential of the gasoline oxygenator additive tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), and was initiated upon a regulatory agency mandate. A developmental toxicity hazard identification study was conducted by TAME vapor inhalation exposure in two pregnant rodent species. Timed-pregnant CD(Sprague-Dawley) rats and CD-1 mice, 25 animals per group, inhaled TAME vapors containing 0, 250, 1500 or 3500 ppm for 6 h a day on gestational days 6-16 (mice) or 6-19 (rats). The developmental toxicity hazard potential was evaluated following the study design draft guidelines and end points proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Based on maternal body weight changes during pregnancy, the no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was 250 ppm for maternal toxicity in rats and 1500 ppm for developmental toxicity in rats using the criterion of near-term fetal body weights. In mice, more profound developmental toxicity was present than in rats, at both 1500 and 3500 ppm. At the highest concentration, mouse litters revealed more late fetal deaths, significantly reduced fetal body weights per litter and increased incidences of cleft palate (classified as an external malformation), as well as enlarged lateral ventricles of the cerebrum (a visceral variation). At 1500 ppm, mouse fetuses also exhibited an increased incidence of cleft palate and the dam body weights were reduced. Therefore, the NOAEL for the mouse maternal and developmental toxicity was 250 ppm under the conditions of this study.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Dominant lethal test with rats exposed to 1,3-dichloropropene by inhalation.

The potential of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-DCP) to induce dominant lethal mutations in the germ cells of male CD rats following inhalation exposure was investigated. Groups of 11-week-old males (30 animals/group) were exposed to 1,3-DCP vapors by inhalation at targeted concentrations of 0 (negative control), 10, 60, and 150 ppm for 10 weeks (6 hr/day, 7 days/week). An additional group of 30 males (designated the pairfed group) was kept on dietary restriction for 10 weeks. This group served as a control for any effects of decreased feed consumption and the associated body weight loss on the dominant lethal indices in the males exposed to 1,3-DCP. At the termination of the exposures, each male was cohoused with naive adult virgin CD females for two consecutive mating trials (1 week/trial, 2 females/male). Females were necropsied 13 days after the conclusion of each weekly mating trial and the number of corpora lutea, live implantations, and resorptions were determined. There were no statistically significant increases in either the pre- or postimplantation embryonic/fetal loss in females mated with 1,3-DCP-exposed males relative to controls at any weekly mating period. Based on these results, it can be concluded that 1,3-DCP is not mutagenic to the male germ cells of CD rats at exposure levels < or = 150 ppm, the highest concentration tested.

Allyl Compounds↗

Occupational exposure of grain farmers to carbofuran.

Six prairie grain farmers were monitored for pesticide exposure and related adverse effects while they mixed and/or sprayed carbofuran (Furadan 480F) with ground rig application equipment to control grasshoppers in southern Alberta, Canada. Dermal exposure was estimated with Tegaderm patches placed at seventeen locations on the skin beneath the work clothes. Hand and wrist exposure was determined by the amount of chemical found in hand rinses and on wrist patches. Potential inhalation exposure was measured with an air sampler using polyurethane foam as the adsorbent. Urine samples were collected at 24-hr intervals after exposure and monitored for carbofuran. Blood samples were analyzed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), pseudocholinesterase (ChE) and several other blood parameters. The results indicated that during the mixing and/or spraying operation, a farmer could potentially be exposed to a total of 1,264 micrograms carbofuran per kg of active ingredient (a.i.) used. Of this amount, 1,262 micrograms/kg (or 99.8%) was dermal and 2 micrograms/kg (or 0.2%) could be through the inhalation route. Hand and wrist exposure was about 1,100 micrograms/kg a.i. (or 87% of total exposure). Excretion of the chemical in the urine amounted to 28 micrograms/kg a.i. No ChE inhibition was observed. Other blood measurements were within normal ranges. The farmers showed no acute adverse effects during exposure and for four days after exposure. These results are discussed in relation to the mammalian toxicity of carbofuran.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Toxicologic testing of inhaled pharmaceutical aerosols.

This paper reviews technical issues related to the toxicologic testing of inhaled pharmaceuticals. Although there are commonalities between approaches to general and inhalation toxicity testing, there also are specific challenges in the toxicity testing of inhaled pharmaceuticals. A major issue is that of dose; inhaled dose is more difficult to determine than intravenous or oral doses. Also, it is harder to relate dose in laboratory animals to that in man for inhalation exposure than for other routes of administration. Additionally, in the case of inhaled pharmaceuticals, people generally inhale through the mouth, whereas most laboratory animals inhale primarily through the nose. This presents significant challenges in exposure methodology and technology that often need innovative approaches involving alteration to particle size of the agent or dosing procedure. Because the respiratory tract is the site of deposition, local respiratory toxicity and possible damage to lung cells need to be assessed. Systemic toxicity also needs to be evaluated and may be an issue in some cases. Special studies on pulmonary function, mucociliary clearance, or immune response may be needed, depending on the nature of the inhaled pharmaceutical. This review explores the main issues involved in toxicity testing of inhaled pharmaceuticals, the approaches that have been used, and the current and future challenges.

Administration, Inhalation↗

The kinetics of grain dust-induced inflammation of the lower respiratory tract.

To characterize the kinetics of grain dust-induced airflow obstruction and inflammation in the lower respiratory tract, we performed serial spirometry and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in human subjects and whole-lung lavage in mice following a single inhalation exposure to comparable dosages of corn dust extract (CDE). Following inhalation of CDE, our human study subjects developed significant airflow obstruction 10 min postexposure which persisted for 48 h. Human subjects and mice had similar acute and persistent changes in lavage cellularity after exposure to CDE. A profound increase in the concentration of lavage neutrophils was present in the initial postexposure lavage in both human subjects and mice. This increase persisted for 96 h in human subjects and 48 h in mice. Small but significant increases in lavage macrophage concentration were present 48 h postexposure in human subjects and at 96 h postexposure in mice. Inhalation of CDE resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the lavage fluid of both human subjects and mice. Similarly, significant increases in lavage concentrations of IL-8 in humans and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) in mice occurred after inhalation of CDE. The lavage concentration of all measured proinflammatory cytokines returned to baseline levels by 168 h in humans and 96 h in mice. These findings suggest that a single inhalation challenge of CDE results in airflow obstruction and lower respiratory tract inflammation that may last for several days. These physiologic and inflammatory responses appear to be self-limited with no evidence of persistent injury 1 wk after the inhalation challenge. Moreover, the inflammatory response in the lower respiratory tract after inhalation of grain dust is similar in human subjects and mice, suggesting that the mouse may be an appropriate model for further investigation of grain dust-induced inflammation.

Adult↗

Early effects of inhaled Ca-DTPA on the rat lung.

Inhalation of calcium trisodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (Ca-DTPA) increases the removal of plutonium and other transuranics from the body. Data are required to determine possible biological effects from inhaled DTPA. Female rats were given a single or 12 daily, 2-4 h, inhalation exposures to aerosols of 10, 20 and 40% Ca-DTPA and the lungs were examined at 21 and 42 days following the last exposure. No pulmonary pathology was found from the single inhalation treatment with Ca-DTPA while only a slight, peripheral, histiocytosis was observed in the lungs of multiple-treated rats. There was no significant effect of DTPA treatments on body weight, lung weight, hematology or serum chemistry values.

Animals↗

A toxikinetic model for simulation of benzene metabolism.

People exposed to benzene, an important industrial solvent and a common pollutant, can develop aplastic anemia and leukemia. The objectives of this study were to develop a physiological model for the metabolism of benzene, based on studies in laboratory animals, and to use this model to predict benzene metabolism in people to concentrations near the current permissible exposure limits. Model simulations predicted that for 8-h inhalation exposures to below 10 ppm, hydroquinone metabolites would predominate. Hydroquinone is associated with pathways leading to the formation of the putative toxic metabolite, benzoquinone. Lower levels of muconic acid, a marker for the putative toxic metabolite, muconaldehyde, were predicted. At concentrations above 10 ppm, detoxification metabolites such as the phenyl conjugates predominate. Predictions of benzene metabolism in humans based on our physiological model may have important implications for risk assessment. Because there may be preferential production of a putative toxic metabolite at low exposure concentrations, linear extrapolation of toxicity observed at high concentrations may underestimate risk at low exposure concentrations.

Animals↗

Movement and deposition of two organophosphorus pesticides within a residence after interior and exterior applications.

Post-application temporal and spatial distributions of two organophosphorus pesticides, diazinon (O,O-diethyl O-[6-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-4-pyrimidinyl] phosphorothioate, CAS No. 333-41-5) and chlorpyrifos [O,O-diethyl-O-(2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate, CAS No. 2921-88-2], were monitored after homeowner applications for indoor and outdoor insect control. Samples of indoor air, vacuumable carpet dust, carpet dislodgeable residues, deposits on bare floors, table tops and dinnerware, surrogate food, and residues on children's hands and toys were taken before and up to 12 days after treatments in the family room, kitchen, and child's bedroom. Results from the study demonstrate the nature and magnitude of translocation of pesticides from the areas of application to surfaces accessible for human contact and permit comparisons of potential exposures via respiration and dermal contact/oral ingestion. Potential indoor inhalation exposures were estimated to be as high as 0.5 microg/kg/day for diazinon applied indoors and 0.05 microg/kg/day for chlorpyrifos applied to the outside perimeter of the house. While ingestion of carpet dust at the rate of 100 microg/day would have added a maximum of only approximately 0.01 microg/kg/day to the daily dose, residues found on the children's hands suggest that repeated mouthing could have contributed as much as 1-1.5 microg/kg/day. These estimates are below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reference dose for chlorpyrifos, but exceed those for diazinon.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Phenyl isocyanate-induced asthma in rats following a 2-week exposure period.

This study was conducted to assess the toxic effects of repeated inhalation exposures to phenyl isocyanate vapor in male Wistar rats. Rats were exposed to design concentrations of 0, 1, 4, 7, or 10 mg/m3 phenyl isocyanate air for 2 weeks (6 hr/day, 5 days/week). The rats were assessed for normal toxicologic parameters, and pulmonary function tests, blood gas measurements, and analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) parameters were utilized shortly after exposures as well as 2 months postexposure. The results indicated that rats exposed to 7 and 10 mg/m3 experienced decreased body weights, hypoactivity, hypothermia, signs of respiratory tract irritation, delayed onset of mortality, and changes in organ weights. In addition, pulmonary function tests demonstrated decreased forced expiratory flow rates and quasistatic lung compliance. Arterial blood gases showed an arterial hypoxemia and changes consistent with a pronounced venous-admixture-like perfusion, suggesting severe mismatch of the ventilation/perfusion relationship. Delayed onset of mortality appeared to be associated with respiratory acidosis and hypoxemia. Biochemical and cellular components in BALF complemented the results of the functional alterations. Remarkable changes were indicated by increased activities of the BALF parameters, gamma-GPT, protein, and sialic acid. Histopathological findings provided evidence of increased secretory cell activity and a concentration-dependent increase in goblet cell hyperplasia at concentrations of 4 mg/m3 and above. In rats exposed to 7 mg/m3 further findings consisted of intraluminal inflammation of airways, hypertrophia of bronchial smooth muscle, epithelial desquamation, and eosinophilia of the airways. A complete regression of morphological lesions was not found in the animals exposed to 4 mg/m3 and above at the 2-month postexposure time period. In conclusion, the damage to the airways comprise most of the features characteristic of chronic airway inflammation or asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model of isopropanol and its metabolite acetone.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for isopropanol (IPA) and its major metabolite, acetone, is described. The structure of the parent chemical model, which can be used for either IPA or acetone by choosing the appropriate chemical-specific parameters, is similar to previously published models of volatile organic chemicals such as styrene. However, in order to properly simulate data on the exhalation of IPA and acetone during inhalation exposures, it was necessary to expand the description of the lung compartment to include a subcompartment for the upper respiratory tract mucus layer. This elaboration is consistent with published PBPK models of other water-soluble vapors in which the mucus layer serves to absorb the chemical during inhalation and then release it during exhalation. In the case of IPA exposure, a similar PBPK structure is used to describe the kinetics of the acetone produced from the metabolism of IPA. The resulting model is able to provide a coherent description of IPA and acetone kinetics in the rat and human for exposures to IPA by several routes: intravenous, intraperitoneal, oral, inhalation, and dermal. It is also able to consistently reproduce kinetic data for exposures of rats or humans to acetone. Thus, the model provides a validated framework for performing chemical-specific route-to-route extrapolation and cross-species dosimetry, which can be used in place of generic default calculations in support of risk assessments for IPA and acetone.

2-Propanol↗

Exposure limits for unconventional shifts: toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic considerations.

Adjustment factors (AF) for inhalation exposure to chemical agents during unconventional work schedules were derived on toxicokinetic bases. AFs depend on the half-life of the agent and on the work schedule. Because they are grossly affected by cumulation, AFs were calculated for steady-state conditions. They were based on the following measures of chemical body burden: (1) end-of-shift biological level as used previously by other investigators; and (2) areas under the curves, AUCexp, AUCday, and AUCweek, which correlate with average biological levels during the shift, work day, and work week, respectively. The dependence of AFs on the half-life was studied on 50 possible work schedules using agents with a half-life of 1 hr to 2 years. Based on the data, simple equations suitable for field conditions were derived for determination of AFs. Since AFs based on individual measures of body burden are not the same, the pharmacodynamics of the toxic endpoint should be considered when selecting the measure of body burden and the half-life for AF determination.

Body Burden↗

Short-term exposure of human subjects to m-xylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Inhalation exposure of male volunteers to m-xylene (8.2 mumol/l, 200 ppm) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) (8.2 and 16.4 mumol/l, 200 and 400 ppm), as well as to a combination of TCE (16.4 mumol/l) and xylene (8.2 mumol/l), induced only slight changes in psychophysiological functions such as body sway and reaction time. Exposure to the 8.2 mumol/l concentration of xylene or TCE tended to improve the performances, whereas TCE exposure at 16.4 mumol/l alone or in combination with xylene tended to have an opposite effect. The results thus suggest a biphasic acute effect of TCE on the central nervous system (CNS) and reveal that xylene and TCE together exhibit neither kinetic interaction nor synergistic nor antagonistic acute effects on the CNS functions studied.

Adult↗

Percutaneous absorption of neat and aqueous solutions of 2-butoxyethanol in volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: To study the influence of the presence of water on the dermal absorption of 2-butoxyethanol (BE) in volunteers. METHODS: Six male volunteers were dermally exposed to 50%, 90% or neat w/w BE for 4 h on the volar forearm over an area of 40 cm(2). An inhalation exposure with a known input rate and duration served as a reference dosage. The dermal absorption parameters were calculated from 24-h excretion of total (free + conjugated) butoxyacetic acid (BAA) in urine and BE in blood, measured after both inhalation and dermal exposure. RESULTS: The dermal absorption of BE from aqueous solutions was markedly higher than that of neat BE. The time-weighted average dermal fluxes were calculated from the urine and blood data and expressed in milligrammes per square centimetre per hour. The dermal fluxes obtained from cumulative 24-h excretion of BAA amounted to 1.34+/-0.49, 0.92+/-0.60 and 0.26+/-0.17 mg cm(-2) h(-1 )for 50%, 90% and neat BE, respectively. The dermal fluxes calculated from the BE blood data amounted to 0.92+/-0.34 and 0.74+/-0.25 mg cm(-2) h(-1 )for 50% and 90% BE, respectively. The permeation rates into the blood reached a plateau between 60 and 120 min after the start of exposure, indicating achievement of steady-state permeation. The apparent permeability coefficient K(p), was 1.75+/-0.53x10(-3) and 0.88+/-0.42x10(-3) cm h(-1 )for 50% and 90% BE, respectively. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous absorption of BE from aqueous solution increased markedly when compared with neat BE. Even water content as low as 10% led to an approximate fourfold increase in the permeation rates. These findings are important for the health risk assessment of occupational exposure to BE, since BE is commonly used in mixtures that contain water. Exposure to aqueous solutions of 50% and 90% of BE may result in substantial skin absorption: if a 60-min skin contact of 1,000 cm(2) is assumed, dermal uptake would be four-times higher than the pulmonary uptake of an 8-h occupational exposure at a TLV of 100 mg m(-3). This clearly justifies the skin notation for BE. For the purpose of biological monitoring, both BE in blood and BAA in urine were shown to be reliable indicators of exposure.

Adult↗

Interleukin-10 does not mediate inhalational tolerance in a chronic model of ovalbumin-induced allergic airway disease.

OBJECTIVE: IL-10 is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, and IL-10-producing regulatory T cells are effective inhibitors of murine asthmatic responses. This study determined whether IL-10-dependent mechanisms mediated the local inhalational tolerance seen with chronic inhalational exposure to antigen. METHODS: Wildtype and IL-10(-/-) mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and then challenged with daily OVA inhalations for 10 days or 6 weeks. RESULTS: The 10-day animals developed allergic airway disease, characterized by BAL eosinophilia, histologic airway inflammation and mucus secretion, methacholine hyperresponsiveness, and OVA-specific IgE production. These changes were more pronounced in IL-10(-/-) mice. The 6-week IL-10(-/-) and wildtype animals both developed inhalational tolerance, with resolution of airway inflammation but persistence of OVA-specific IgE production. CONCLUSION: IL-10 may have anti-inflammatory effects in the acute stage of murine allergic airways disease, but the cytokine does not mediate the development of local inhalational tolerance with chronic antigen exposure.

Acute Disease↗

[Accumulation kinetics of trichloroethylene and its metabolites during multiple exposures. A theoretical study (author's transl)].

In attempting to establish an excretory TLV for trichloroethylene, the rates at which trichloroethylene and its metabolites accumulate in the body with increasing number of exposures and their plateau values attained after repetition of an infinite number of exposures were estimated theoretically with a mathematical model. After a single inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene is over, its concentration in the blood, x, and the amount of its urinary metabolites, [D]to, as a function of time t are expressed as a sum of three exponentials: (formula: see text). where A1-A3 and D1-D3 are constants depending on the inhaled air concentration of trichloroethylene, and alpha 1-alpha 2 and kA-K3 rate constants. When the same degree of exposure is repeated for n consecutive days, the blood concentration, t hours after the nth day's exposure, becomes (formula: see text). From the experimental results of a single human exposure reported previously, the concentration of trichloroethylene in the blood was predicted to change only to a negligible degree after repetition of an infinitive number of exposures, whereas the amount of total urinary metabolites was predicted to increase by twice as much as that excreted after the single exposure.

Environmental Exposure↗