US EPA

626943 

Journal Article 

Acute inhalation toxicity study of formaldehyde in rats: Effect of vapor on the pulmonary surfactant 

Kamata, E; Nakadate, M; Ogawa, Y; Kaneko, T; Kurokawa, Y; Yukawa, M 

1996 

1 

Oyo Yakuri
ISSN: 0300-8533 

51 

1 

33-37 

English 

BCI:BCI199698688962 

The effects of formaldehyde vapor exposure on pulmonary surfactant were investigated. Male Fischer 344 rats inhaled 128.4 or 294.5 ppm concentrations of formaldehyde for 6 hr. Dyspnea, lid closure, lacrimation, bloody nasal discharge and salivation were observed during the inhalation period. Edema surrounding the trachea, hydrothorax, congestion of lung and nasal mucosa, and retention of mucus in the trachea were recognized on autopsy. The contents of phosphatidylcholine in the lung wash solution were dose-dependently decreased, and the contents of other phospholipids were decreased in the 294.5 ppm exposed group. These results demonstrate depression of the pulmonary surfactant secretion due to formaldehyde treatment under the present experimental condition.