Cytotoxic, Irritant and Fibrogenic Effects of Metal-Fume Particulate Materials Investigated by Intramuscular Injection in the Rat and Guinea Pig

Abstract

Fume products from metal-working processes are complex mixtures of metals and other elements, often potentially toxic and inhalable, e.g. fumes from welding ferrochromium steels. Previous investigations (Hicks et al. 1983) indicated that the toxic effects most usually exercised by such fumes when inhaled were irritancy, fibrogenicity and cytotoxicity. For simple comparative purposes, intramuscular administration was used as a means of producing particle deposits, being precise in dosage and location and not subject to aggressive translocation mechanisms. Toxic effects of ferrochromium metal products were compared, in particular, fume particles from manual metal-arc welding of stainless steel. Such fumes are rich in chromium in the hexavalent, highly reactive form. Fume particles from an innovative ‘low-fume’ electrode, welding product were also tested.