Inhalation effect of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) on the respiratory system / 천식및알레르기

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) has been known to be relatively safe except irritation of the skin and upper airway, and pulmonary disease directly associated with HCFC-141b exposure has not been reported yet. OBJECTIVE: We report a highly suspicious case of HCFC-141b-related occupational asthma, which was assessed by workplace challenge, but not confirmed by specific inhalation test. We also performed animal experiment to evaluate whether long-term exposure to HCFC-141b could cause inflammation of the airway and parenchymal lung tissue. METHOD: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups. HCFC-141b exposure for each group was carried out under the condition of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 13 weeks by inhalation with different concentration of HCFC-141b; Group A-control Group B-low concentration, 1500 ppm Group C-moderate concentration, 3000 ppm and Group D-high concentration, 6000 ppm. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and histopathological examination of lung tissue was undertaken after HCFC-141b exposure. RESULTS: HCFC-141b did not induce any abnormal change in the clinical and behavioral signs during and at the termination of the inhalation exposure. Compared with control rat, significantly abnormal findings in the microscopic examination of BAL and tissue preparations was not noted in HCFC-141b exposed rats. CONCLUSION: We report a suspicious case of occupational asthma due to HCFC-141b exposure. Animal experiment, however, revealed that HCFC-141b has no toxic or side effect on the respiratory system regardless of its concentration.