US EPA

2337959 

Journal Article 

Titanium dioxide exposure induces acute eosinophilic lung inflammation in rabbits 

Choi, GS; Oak, C; Chun, BK; Wilson, D; Jang, TW; Kim, HK; Jung, M; Tutkun, E; Park, EK 

In Press 

Yes 

Industrial Health
ISSN: 0019-8366
EISSN: 1880-8026 

English 

24705802 

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is increasingly widely used in industrial, commercial and home products. TiO2 aggravates respiratory symptoms by induction of pulmonary inflammation although the mechanisms have not been well investigated. We aimed to investigate lung inflammation in rabbits after intratracheal instillation of P25 TiO2. One ml of 10, 50 and 250 µg of P25 TiO2 was instilled into one of the lungs of rabbits, chest computed-tomography was performed, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was collected before, at 1 and 24hr after P25 TiO2 exposure. Changes in inflammatory cells in the BAL fluids were measured. Lung pathological assay was also carried out at 24hr after P25 TiO2 exposure. Ground glass opacities were noted in both lungs 1hr after P25 TiO2 and saline (control) instillation. Although the control lung showed complete resolution at 24hr, the lung exposed to P25 TiO2 showed persistent ground glass opacities at 24hr. The eosinophil counts in BAL fluid were significantly increased after P25 TiO2 exposure. P25 TiO2 induced a dose dependent increase of eosinophils in BAL fluid but no significant differences in neutrophil and lymphocyte cell counts were detected. The present findings suggest that P25 TiO2 induces lung inflammation in rabbits which is associated with eosinophilic inflammation.