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Abstract
A relevant animal model has been developed to aid in establishing safety guidelines for workplace inhalation exposures to cardioactive agents. A telemetry system was used to monitor heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECC) waveform effects noninvasiveiy during whole-body inhalation exposures of a group of four unrestrained, conscious monkeys or dogs. This method has been evaluated by measuring responses to aerosols of a known β-agonist (isoproterenol), and representative “inert” aerosols, saline, and dust (clay). A saline aerosol had no effects on heart rate or ECC at concentrations up to 6.5 mg/m3. Heart rates decreased slightly in monkeys during exposure to clay aerosols at concentrations of 5 mg/m3 or higher. Clay aerosol had no effect on heart rates in dogs. A dose-response relationship was demonstrated for isoproterenol aerosol. Mean heart rate in monkeys increased 0, 13, 18, 27, and 54% during exposures to 0.6, 1.0, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.9 mg isoproterenol/m3. In dogs, mean heart rate increased 6, 29, 77, and 120% during exposures to 0.5, 1.0, 2.3, and 4.7 mg isoproterenol/m3. These results, plus the anatomical similarities of the monkey and dog respiratory tract to that of man, give confidence in using this model to extrapolate to people.