A new technique for generating heavy metal fumes with high melting point.
There are many kinds of fumes containing heavy metals in the working area. They sometimes have bad effects on the living body. It is important to determine their particle size distribution for considering the effects of those metals on health, together with measuring their amounts. For this purpose, it is neces-sary to generate fumes which are suitable to use. However, effective methods for generating fumes of heavy metals with high melting points have not been developed.In this study we attempted to determine whether the plasma flame metal sprayer can be used as a fume generator. The size distribution, particle form and amounts of the generated fumes were determined for the iron fume which were generated with this instrument under the various conditions. The fume was to consist of coagulated fine particles and dispersed globular particles. Our attempt extended to the generation of fumes consisting not only of one kind of metal but also of two kinds of metal. It was also found that fumes having the required radio might be generated by controlling the ratio of the metals in the powder mixture.We conclude that this instrument might be suitable for generating fumes of heavy metals in the laboratory.
RESPONSES OF ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGE TO METALLIC FUME
Alveolar macrophage was lavaged from lungs of rats exposed to inhalation of the particles of Sb, Pb, Cd, CaCO3 or poly vinyl chloride (PVC) and its number and 14C-leucine incorporating activity were studied. The number of free cell lavaged from the lung decreased remarkably by the exposure to Sb or Cd fume, while by the exposure to Pb fume, CaCO3 or PVC particles the number of lavaged cells did not change from that of control group breathing air in the exposure chamber. There was found a linear correlation 1 hr after inhalation between 14C-leucine in-corporation value for total cell and the number of lavaged cell in all the experi-mental groups except unrestrained (bred freely under normal condition) group and Sb group. That is, the incorporation value per cell in all the experimental groups except Sb group and unrestrained group was almost equal. In the case of Sb group and unrestained group the incorporation value per cell was lower than those of the other groups. Although the incorporation of 14C-leucine into cell in control group decreased by level of unrestrained group 21 hr after inhalation, in the Pb, CaCO3 or PVC group 14C-leucine incorporation into cell 21th hour did not change from that 1 hr after inhalation. 14C-leucine incorporation per cell in Sb group 21 hr after inhalation remarkably increased. This tendency was also seen in Cd group.The effects of the particles used in the inhalation experiment on the macrophage in vitro were also studied. The Sb fume was the most effective of all the samples and followed by Cd fume and then by Pb fume. The particles of CaCO3 or PVC were practically inert to the macrophage.
Acute Cadmium Fume Poisoning: Five Cases with one Death from Renal Necrosis
This paper describes the accidental poisoning of five workers by cadmium fume. The men were dismantling a frame of girders in a confined space by cutting bolts with an oxyacetylene burner. They were unaware at the time that the bolts were cadmium-plated or that this presented a serious industrial hazard. The paper sets out to give an appreciation of acute cadmium poisoning, the characteristics and uses of cadmium, and a review of the literature. The clinical picture of these cases is described, with the pathology of the fatal case which showed severe pulmonary oedema, alveolar metaplasia of the lung, and bilateral cortical necrosis of the kidneys. The lungs contained 0·25 g. cadmium oxide (CdO) per 100 g. wet specimen. An attempted estimation of the fatal dose of CdO fume is made. From the post-mortem findings, using an assumption that 11% of inhaled CdO will be retained in the lungs, approximately 51·7 mg. CdO fume must have been inhaled by the fatal case. As he worked for five hours with a probable ventilatory rate of 20 l./min. the concentration of CdO in the air breathed would be of the order of 8·6 mg./m.3. An estimation of the dose from a study of the working conditions proved unsatisfactory due to certain variables listed in the text.