Lung Toxicity in Rats After Inhalation of Aerosols Generated During Thermal Spray Coating Using Different Consumable Materials

Details

• Personal Author:
  Afshari A ; Andrews R ; Antonini JM ; Cumpston JB ; Cumpston JL ; Erdely A ; Friend S ; Jackson M ; Kodali V ; Lee EG ; Leonard HD ; Leonard, Stephen S. ; McKinney W ; Meighan T ; Zeidler-Erdely PC
• Description:
  Thermal spray coating (TSC) is an emerging industrial process in which molten metal is sprayed at a high velocity onto a surface as a protective coating. Little is known about the physical and chemical properties of the particles generated and the potential health effects associated with exposure to TSC aerosols. A computer controlled TSC generator and inhalation exposure system has been developed to perform animal studies to mimic workplace exposures. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed by whole-body inhalation to aerosols (25 mg/m3 x 4 hours/ day x 4 days) generated from electric arc wire TSC using different consumable wires including a Fe-Cr stainless-steel wire (PMET731), a Ni-based wire (PMET885), and a Zn-based wire (PMET540). Control animals were exposed to filtered air. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 4 and 30 days after the last of the 4 day exposures to assess lung toxicity. BAL fluid lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured as a marker of lung cell toxicity, and total recovered BAL cells were counted as an index of lung inflammation. Animal body weights were measured throughout the post-exposure period to assess general health. The TSC aerosols were generated in a closed spray booth and piped into an animal exposure chamber where they were collected and characterized. The metal composition of each was determined by ICP-AES, including the stainless-steel wire [PMET731 (66% Fe, 26% Cr)], the Ni-based wire [PMET885 (97% Ni)], and the Zn-based wire [PMET540 (99% Zn)]. The particles generated regardless of composition were poorly soluble, complex metal oxides that were arranged as chain-like agglomerates and were similar in size distribution with mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) that ranged from 310 - 378 nm as determined by MOUDI. Inhalation of the Ni-based (PMET885) aerosol caused a significant decrease in body weight compared to the air control at all time points assessed post-exposure for 30 days, whereas the Zn-based (PMET540) and Fe-Cr stainless-steel (PMET731) aerosols had no effect on body weight post-exposure. Exposure to the Ni-based (PMET885) aerosol caused a significant increase in lung injury (BAL fluid LDH activity) and inflammation (total BAL cells recovered) at both 4 and 30 days after exposure. Inhalation of the Zn-based (PMET540) aerosol caused a slight but significant increase in BALF LDH and total BAL cells recovered at 4 but not at 30 days compared to air control. Exposure to the Fe-Cr stainless-steel TSC aerosol had no significant effect on lung toxicity post-exposure. Results of this pilot comparison study of different TSC aerosols indicate that varied lung responses (e.g., Ni >> Zn > Fe-Cr) are likely dependent on the type of consumables used. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Animals Lung Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Animal Studies Cellular Effects Inhalation Lung Tissue Metal Oxides Protective Coatings Sprays
• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  192
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067229
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2023 Mar; 192(S1):466
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 62nd Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, March 19-23, 2023, Nashville, Tennessee
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ed7f167bd6e27653af64fe5093740e91040255ee5d068cc6d1ceefb7dfee9ad82c3b08531959a55e6bcc559307e454b3af8271f00ad0ade1483f2acda9bc0b69
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231354/cdc_231354_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.07 MB ]