Abstract
Although a large number of epidemiological and physiological studies have already revealed the intimate relation between respiratory diseases and certain forms of environmental pollution, such as air pollution or cigarette smoking, there have been very little data from observations on laboratory animals. Previous studies have proved that β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) caused osteolathyrism and destruction of the alveolar wall.
In the present study, administration of BAPN to rats and hamsters was undertaken to produce animals highly sensitive to pulmonary emphysema. Therefore, these animals were exposed to NO2, cigarette smoke and diesel exhaust for five to nine weeks by means of inhalation.
The results of the histopathological examination suggest that the order of activity for development of emphysema appears to be (1) diesel exhaust (2) cigarette smoke (3) NO2, and further suggest that particulate matter is more noxious than gaseous components with regard to the development of emphysema.
