PULMONARY TOXICITY OF COMPONENTS OF TEXTILE PAINT LINKED TO THE ARDYSTIL-SYNDROME - INTRATRACHEAL ADMINISTRATION IN HAMSTERS

Objectives-It was hypothesised from an epidemiological investigation t hat a formula change from Acramin FWR (a polyurea) to Acramin FWN (a p olyamideamine) had led to severe pulmonary disease in textile printing sprayers in Spain and Algeria. To verify this, the pulmonary toxicity of the components of the paint systems involved was assessed in exper imental animals. Methods-Individual components and relevant mixtures, diluted in phosphate buffered saline, were given by intratracheal inst illation of 2 ml/kg to hamsters. Pulmonary toxicity was assessed on da ys 3, 7, 14, 28, and 92 after a single intratracheal instillation, by histology and by measuring wet and dry lung weight, protein concentrat ion, the activities of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, be ta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase, inflammato ry cell number and distribution in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) , and hydroxyproline content in dried lung tissue. Results-Based on th e doses that killed 50% of the animals (LD(50)s), the various componen ts were found to be 10 to 1250 times more toxic when given intratrache ally than when given orally (according to reported oral LD(50)s in rat s). Acramin FWN, Acramin FWR, Acrafix FHN, or their mixtures caused lu ng damage. Protein concentration, enzyme activities, total cell number , and percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils were increased in BA LF during the first week after intratracheal instillation. Lung weight s remained high for at least a month. Histology showed inflammatory ce ll infiltration and subsequent fibrosis with collagen deposition. This finding was confirmed by an increased hydroxyproline content in dried lung tissue. Acramoll W did not show toxic effects. Conclusions-The s tudy suggests that there is no major difference, in hamsters, between the acute intratracheal toxicity of Acramin FWR and that of Acramin FW N. Consequently, there is no simple toxicological explanation for the epidemiological hypothesis. However, the pulmonary toxicity of these n on-irritant polymeric compounds is surprisingly high. The Ardystil dis aster and these results should serve as a strong warning that conventi onal toxicity testing of chemicals does not necessarily protect worker s against respiratory toxicity.