![Sample our Environment & Sustainability journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5935/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Sustainability.jpg"})
Abstract
A comparison of the concentration‐response effects of inhaled ozone (O 3 ) and phosgene (COCI 2 ) in different species of laboratory animals was made in order to better understand the influence of the choice of species in inhalation toxicity studies. The effect of 4‐h exposures to ozone at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ppm, and to COCI 2 and 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 ppm was determined in rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, and mice. Lavage fluid protein (LFP) accumulation 18–20 h after exposure was used as the indicator of O 3 ‐ and COCI 2 ‐induced pulmonary edema. All species had similar basal levels of LFP (250–350 mg/ml) when a volume of saline that approximated the total lung capacity was used to lavage the collapsed lungs. Ozone effects were most marked in guinea pigs, which showed significant effects at 0.2 ppm and above. Mice, hamsters, and rats showed effects at 1.0 ppm O 3 and above, while rabbits responded only at 2.0 ppm O 3 . Phosgene similarly affected mice, hamsters, and rats at 0.2 ppm and above, while guinea pigs and rabbits were affected at 0.5 ppm and above. Percent recovery of lavage fluid varied significantly between species, guinea pigs having lower recovery than other species with both gases. Lavage fluid recovery was lower following exposure to higher levels of O 3 but not COCI 2 . Results of this study indicate that significant species differences are seen in the response to low levels of O 3 and COCI 2 . These differences do not appear to be related in a simple manner to body weight.
