Pulmonary Tissue Reactions in Response to Smoke Injury

Abstract

Rats were exposed for 30 minutes at the approximate LC₅₀ of Douglas fir (DF), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyisocyanurate foam (PI) smokes produced in a radiant furnace at 2.5 w/cm². They were sacrificed and examined for respira tory tissue changes at 24 hours following exposure. All smokes produced air way injury. The more extensive airway injury produced by PVC smoke and, in some instances, by PI smoke, involved the entire epithelial surface area of the trachea and the surfaces of lobar and first division sublobar bronchi. The injury produced by DF smoke was concentrated in the proximal one-half of the trachea. The injuries are discussed with respect to potential chemical toxicants.