Element bioaccumulation from coal fly ash

Abstract

Element bioaccumulation from 2.3 (mu)m hopper ash obtained from a power plant burning Southeast Ohio coal has been investigated. Experiments were designed to examine relationships among exposure route, dose mass, and accumulation. Ash doses of 50 and 100 mg and 50, 100, and 200 mg were administered intratracheally and intragastrically, respectively, to female Fisher rats. To evaluate the elemental distribution with time, respective groups of animals were sacrificed 3 and 14 days postexposure. Prior to the sacrifices, whole blood (red blood cell and plasma), feces, and urine were collected from each rat. After sacrifice, major organs were sampled. Samples were pooled according to dose mass and administration route for each sacrifice day in groups of three rats. Pooled samples were analyzed using neutron activation analysis. Sample irradiations were for 14 h in a thermal neutron flux of about 10('13) neutrons/cm('2)/sec. Subsequent radioactive emissions were measured and evaluated utilizing a Canberra Ge(Li) detector and Nuclear Data ND 66 pulse height analyzer. Analytical results of lung and gastrointestinal tract elemental contents from the 50 mg dose (both administration routes) showed distinct reductions between 0 time and day 3. These values eventually increased between days 3 and 14 postexposure. Rapid clearances of the 100 mg dose from the lung were evident, and the 100 and 200 mg doses in the gastrointestinal tract also appeared to clear quickly. Pronounced association of As with red blood cells of rats intragastrically exposed was indicated. This clearly demonstrates the reported tendency of As to bind to erythrocytes....