[A dust generator for inhalation experiments in a high-pressure chamber].

The health effect of inhalable dust particles at working places is predominantly related to "normal" conditions (i.e. temperature = 20 degrees C, atmospheric pressure = 1013 mbar). A probable risk for humans, working in pressurized places (tunnels) raises from modified respiration conditions. An inhalation experiment with rats was performed in a pressurized exposure chamber (1,5 bar). The dust generator was placed in the chamber and consisted of an endless ball-chain, which was lead through a glass-funnel as a dust-store. The average dust concentration ranged between 10 and 14 mg/m3 air. Short-time variations in case of the quartz dust DQ 12 were unavoidable.