Pulmonary function changes in rats after chronic and subchronic inhalation exposure to various particulate matter

Pulmonary function measurements using the whole body plethysmograph were performed in rats exposed by inhalation to a special test toner at various concentrations. Chrystalline SiO2 as a positive and TiO2 as a negative control material for fibrogenic end point were also used. In two experiments, a long-term and a subchronic recovery study, the impact of the inhaled material on mechanical lung function was investigated and compared with BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage) and histopathological observations in the lungs.