抄録
The evaluation and assessment of the inhalation toxicity of smoke emitted from mosquito coils appear to be particularly challenging due to the complex nature of this type of exposure atmospheres. The potential health implications of the gases, volatile agents, and particulate matter emitted from burning coils or incense have frequently been addressed; however, yet harmonized approaches to inhalation toxicity testing are scarce. So far no robust endpoints have been defined to predict putative chronic toxicity by adequately designed short-term inhalation tests. Acute inhalation toxicity studies in rats suggest that the most critical metrics of exposure is apparently related to (semi)volatile upper respiratory tract sensory irritants, whilst the asphyxic component carbon monoxide plays a role only at overtly irritant exposure levels. Similarly, biomarkers of particle-induced pulmonary inflammation or increased phago¬cytosis and lysosomal activity in bronchoalveolar lavage were unremarkable. Overall, the results of this combination of endpoints show that smoke from burning mosquito coils in concentrations high enough to elicit distinct acute upper respiratory tract irritation due to the presence of common wood-combustion products (such as aliphatic aldehydes) did not cause any adverse effect within the lower respiratory tract (or any other extra-pulmonary organ). Although high levels of airborne particulates were identified in inhalation exposure atmospheres, particle-induced pulmonary toxicity did not occur after 13-week subchronic inhalation exposure of rats. Thus, the particulates present in mosquito coil smoke appear to be liquid condensates and not carbonaceous-core related.
