Effects of Coal Combustion and Gasification Process Contaminants on Pulmonary Defense Mechanisms. 3RD Quarter and Final Progress Report

摘要

This project has involved the study of the effects of effluents from coal combustion processes on alveolar macrophage function using the rat and rabbit as the experimental animals. A number of alveolar macrophage functions are inhibited by several heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Pb) which are contained in the respirable particulates of coal combustion flyash. Lysosomal enzyme activities and lysosomal enzyme latency are inhibited but only at high metal concentrations. The same was found for phagocytosis. The oxidative responses to zymosan challenge were much more sensitive to the effects of metals with chemiluminescence being the most sensitive. 7 figures, 7 tables. (ERA citation 09:045403)