Assessment of early alveolar particle clearance and macrophage function following an acute inhalation of sulfuric acid mist.

Rabbits were exposed to submicrometer sulfuric acid mist at 1 mg/m3 for 1 hr to assess effects on alveolar region clearance of a polystyrene latex tracer aerosol. Bronchopulmonary lavage was performed at selected times after exposure for functional characterization of alveolar macrophages. In vivo, clearance was accelerated in acid exposed animals relative to sham controls. Acid exposure produced no change in the viability or numbers of macrophages recovered. Although an increase in the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, primary neutrophils, was observed by 1 hr in both acid and sham groups, compared to nonexposed controls, levels were normal by 12 hr in shams but continued elevated in the acid group through 24 hr. Reduced in vitro macrophage adherence was observed after acid exposure. In vivo uptake of the tracer particles by macrophages was enhanced during the first 3 hr after acid exposure and in vitro phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes was increased through 48 hr post-exposure. The results indicate some functional alterations in free cells after in vivo exposure to H2SO4 and the production of a mild inflammatory response. This latter was associated with an acceleration of inert particle clearance from the alveolar region.