Date of Graduation

2001

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

David A. Whaley

Abstract

Inhalation of residual oil fly ash (ROFA) has been shown to increase pulmonary morbidity in exposed workers. We examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ROFA-Induced lung injury. ROFA (ROFA-Total) was suspended in saline, incubated, centrifuged, and separated into soluble (ROFA-Soluble) and insoluble (ROFA-Insoluble) fractions. The generation of ROS from ROFA samples was measured by electron spin resonance (ESR). Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally instilled with saline, ROFATotal, ROFA-Soluble, and ROFA-Insoluble (1 mg/ 100 g body wt). Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage cells were harvested at 4, 24, and 72 hours after instillation. Chemiluminescence, lipid peroxidation, and biochemical parameters were assessed. Cellular oxidant production and tissue injury were observed mostly with ROFA-Total and ROFA-Insoluble particulate forms. ROS generated by ROFA-Soluble as measured by ESR appear not to play a major role in lung injury caused after ROFA exposure.

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