Experimental studies on the effects of Mt. Sakurajima volcanic ashes on the respiratory organs.

Since 1978, the authors have collected ashes from Sakurajima volcanic eruption in Kagoshima City, and the ashes were administered to rats and rabbits through different routes and forms injecting into the trachea in order to see the effect of ashes on the respiratory organs. The authors experimentally and histopathologically demonstrated bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, atelectasis lung, degeneration of blood vessel, dust nodes and induction of pneumoconiosis due to dust fibrosis in the study of the effect of volcanic ashes on the respiratory organs.