Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the pulmonary toxicity of 2 Korea asbestos(chrysotile, anthophyllite), Sprague-Dawely rats were exposed to 2 mg domestic asbestos by intratracheal instillation(IT). Methods: Lung function of rats was analyzed by pressure transducer(MAX1320, Buxco Electronics, USA). The effects of 2 mg asbestos(chrysotile ; $8,814,244{\times}10^{6}$ fibers/mg, average diameter 0.08 ${\mu}m$, average length 4.39 ${\mu}m$, anthophyllite ; $5,182{\times}10^{6}$ fibers/mg, average diameter 0.95 ${\mu}m$, average length 7.29 ${\mu}m$) on pulmonary function and pathological changes were evaluated at after a single IT. Lung function and histopathological evaluation were assessed in 5 animals from each group at each time point. Results: Due to differences in fiber numbers, chrysotile induce marked lung pathology and lung function change than anthophyllite at the same mass dose. Chrysotile showed notable thickening of interstitial areas surrounding the alveolar ducts and terminal bronchioles. Conclusions: On a mass dose basis, chrysotile that have 1,700 times numbers of fibers per unit weight than anthophyllite produced a greater persistent lung injury than anthophllite for at least 4 weeks after exposure.