Ozone-Induced Pulmonary Lesions

Abstract

The toxicity of ozone at various concentration levels has been cited by others. As an air pollutant, ozone poses a significant health hazard. The incidence of pulmonary adenomas in tumor-susceptible mice increased upon exposure to ozone. We investigated the effects of ozone on the lungs of a tumor-resistant strain of mice (Swiss Webster). The animals were exposed to 4.5 ppm of ozone for two hours every third day for 75 days. Acute changes, ie, organizing pneumonia and septal fibrosis, were also observed. Epithelial changes noted in 23% of ozone-exposed animals included hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, and pulmonary adenoma. In the control group, only one animal (1.8%) showed epithelial hyperplasia.