Long term effects of alumina on components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from rats

Significant differences in several components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) have previously been reported in aluminium potroom workers compared with controls. The present paper describes the long term effects in rats of one time exposure to potroom aluminium oxide without fluorides (pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British Journal of Industrial Medicine 1993-02, Vol.50 (2), p.172-175
Main Authors: Tornling, G, Blaschke, E, Eklund, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Albumins
Aluminum
Aluminum - adverse effects
Aluminum - metabolism
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - metabolism
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Extracellular matrix
Fluorides
Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.)
Lung - metabolism
Lung - pathology
Lungs
Macrophages
Macrophages - drug effects
Medical sciences
Neutrophils
Neutrophils - drug effects
Oxides
Pulmonary alveoli
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Toxicology
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Summary:Significant differences in several components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) have previously been reported in aluminium potroom workers compared with controls. The present paper describes the long term effects in rats of one time exposure to potroom aluminium oxide without fluorides (primary alumina (PA)) or with adsorbed fluorides (secondary alumina (SA)) on components of BAL fluid. Alumina dust (40 mg) suspended in saline was instilled intratracheally; controls received saline. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed one, four, and 12 months after exposure. The number of cells in BAL fluid was increased significantly (p < 0.05) by SA but not PA. The increase was mainly macrophages, but the concentrations of neutrophils also increased about 10-fold one and 12 months after exposure. Although albumin and hyaluronan concentrations did not differ from those of controls, fibronectin concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) increased one year after exposure both in PA exposed and SA exposed rats. The results indicate that SA, possibly because of adhered fluorides, induces early changes in alveolar cell populations including persistent neutrophilia. These cellular changes may have a destructive effect. The late pronounced increase of fibronectin in both PA and SA exposed rats indicates a delayed effect of alumina on the extracellular matrix.
ISSN:0007-1072
1351-0711
1470-7926
DOI:10.1136/oem.50.2.172