Chronic inhalation exposure and phospholipids in lung surfactant and tissue.

Golden hamsters were exposed to 2 mg/m3 coal fly ash for 180 days. The exposure raised the phospholipid level in the tissue, whereas no such elevation was observed in the surfactant. Increased phospholipid in the tissue is thought to reflect the accumulated surfactant in type II cells. Fatty acid composition analysis indicated an increase of arachidonic acid in the surfactant and increases of palmitic acid and arachidonic acid in the tissue. In conclusion, the pulmonary surfactant high in fluidity was stored in the lung tissue more than control, and the surfactant was secreted into the alveoli normally.