AMBIENT SULFATE MEASUREMENTS ON ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN AND THE QUESTION OF ATMOSPHERIC SULFATE IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Effects of fine and ultrafine sulfuric acid aerosols in guinea pigs: alterations in alveolar macrophage function and intracellular pH

Acidic sulfate is the most toxicologically important sulfur oxide which exists in the ambient air. To determine if particle size influences toxic effects of sulfuric acid, we investigated the effects of sulfuric acid aerosols of two different sizes on biochemical and cellular parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from exposed guinea pigs. Guinea pigs were exposed to fine (mass median diameter, 0.3 micron), and ultrafine (mass median diameter, 0.04 micron) sulfuric acid aerosols at 300 micrograms/m3 for 3 hr/day. The animals were euthanized immediately and 24 hr after 1 and 4 days of exposure and lungs were lavaged. Elevated beta-glucuronidase, lactate dehydrogenase activities, and total protein concentration as well as decreased cell viability were observed in the lavage after a single exposure to sulfuric acid aerosols of both sizes. These alterations were small, though statistically significant, and transient. No alteration in these parameters was observed after 4 days of exposure to acid aerosols. In contrast, sulfuric acid-induced alterations in alveolar macrophage function were more pronounced and longer lasting. Immediately after a single exposure to fine acid, there was a 2.7-fold increase in the spontaneous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release over that in the control group while endotoxin-stimulated TNF release was increased by 2.2-fold. In addition, acid aerosols of both sizes increased the TNF release from macrophages after 4 days of exposure, although there was no clear temporal pattern of induction or recovery. Furthermore, immediately after 4 days of exposure to either fine or ultrafine acid, the amount of H2O2 that could be induced from baseline production by alveolar macrophages was 2.2-fold higher than that of the controls. The phagocytic function of macrophages was also altered by exposure to sulfuric acid aerosols. Twenty-four hours after single or multiple exposure, fine acid enhanced (as high as 78% above control) the in vitro phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages while ultrafine acid depressed the phagocytic capacity (as much as 50% below that in the control). In addition to these biochemical parameters and cellular functions, we also measured the intracellular pH (pHi) of macrophages harvested after exposures to these acid aerosols using a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye. The resting pHi was depressed after a single exposure to both acid aerosols. The depression in pHi persisted 24 hr after ultrafine acid exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Comparative irritant potency of inhaled sulfate aerosols--effects on bronchial mucociliary clearance

The effect of 1-hr oral inhalation exposures to submicrometer aerosols of ammonium bisulfate (NH4HSO4), ammonium sulfate [NH4)2SO4), and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) upon mucociliary clearance from the bronchial tree of rabbits was examined. Exposures to NH4HSO4 at concentrations of approximately 600-1700 micrograms/m3 produced a significant depression of clearance rate only at the highest exposure level. No significant effects were observed with the other sulfates at levels up to approximately 2000 micrograms/m3. When results were compared to those from another study in this laboratory using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) aerosol, the ranking of irritant potency was H2SO4 greater than NH4HSO4 greater than (NH4)2SO4, Na2SO4. Alteration in bronchial mucociliary clearance due to sulfate aerosols appears to be related to the deposition of [H+] on the mucus lining of conducting airways.