Comparative irritant potency of inhaled sulfate aerosols--effects on bronchial mucociliary clearance.

The effect of 1-hr oral inhalation exposures to submicrometer aerosols of ammonium bisulfate (NH4HSO4), ammonium sulfate [NH4)2SO4), and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) upon mucociliary clearance from the bronchial tree of rabbits was examined. Exposures to NH4HSO4 at concentrations of approximately 600-1700 micrograms/m3 produced a significant depression of clearance rate only at the highest exposure level. No significant effects were observed with the other sulfates at levels up to approximately 2000 micrograms/m3. When results were compared to those from another study in this laboratory using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) aerosol, the ranking of irritant potency was H2SO4 greater than NH4HSO4 greater than (NH4)2SO4, Na2SO4. Alteration in bronchial mucociliary clearance due to sulfate aerosols appears to be related to the deposition of [H+] on the mucus lining of conducting airways.