August, 2000 - Issue 10

Dear Colleagues,

This is the tenth issue of the inhalation Toxicology newsletter, Summer (July and August), 2000.

It is sent on the First of August, Swiss Independence Day. In this issue, we review some issues related to childhood asthma. Issues of particle size and drug delivery are also addressed. An inhalation employment opportunity notice at The Dow Chemical Company is listed below. Placement of notices such as this a free professional service.

In the way of new technology, we showcase a capsule view of a novel binary exposure chamber from Canada. The inhalation exposure unit is described by the inventors, Josette Gunnette and Renaud Vincent. As you might expect, this patented system is available through CH Technologies. For more information on how it works, look at: "http://www.inhalation.net/exposure_unit.htm".  If you wish, call Dr. Jaeger for more information and a demonstration at your facility. This unit will be displayed at the SOT meeting in San Francisco , March, 2001.

The MicroDust 880 Pro from Casella is a new item. Their frequently asked questions (FAQS) pages are featured along with information on its operation. The text applies to earlier models and may be useful to those wishing to explain to management why such hardware is useful. This text from the Casella web side was assembled by Susan Shami. It is found at : "http://www.inhalation.net?microdust_pro.htm"

Dr. Rudolph Jaeger will illustrate this unit along with the Vilnius Aerosol Generator (VAG) at the Association of Inhalation Toxicologists meeting in Stockholm, Sweden in September 13-15, 2000. A 30 port cigarette smoking machine with continuous flow smoke pumps is now available to University laboratories on a rental basis. A simpler version of this machine is available at reduced cost to universities, regulatory agencies or non-profit groups for use in their testing program. Contact Dr. Jaeger if you wish to know the rental cost and if you have a desire to schedule the availability of this unit. Details are found at "http://www.toxics.com".

Articles/Issues of Current Interest in Inhalation Toxicology: The Role of the Government in Protecting the Health of Children and the suspected cause of asthma and recent legislative hearings are reviewed by Arlene Weiss at "http://www.inhalation.net/children.htm".

Childhood Lung Disease and Urban Environmental Pollutants : Do Urban Environmental Pollutants Exacerbate Childhood Lung Disease? is described in this editorial from UC Davis. Susan Shami's comments and the citation are found at "http://www.inhalation.net/childhood_lung_disease.htm"

A New Perspective on the Pathophysiology of Asthma from Dr. Sally E. Wenzel, MD, editor of the American Thoracic Society journal, is summarized by Dr. Shami at "http://www.inhalation.net/pathophysiology_asthma.htm".

Particle Size and Asthma Treatment by Busse, WW, and Wenzel, SE, covers Large and Small Airway Dysfunction in Asthma: Rationale for Treating the Entire Airway. Dr. Shami notes that "Inflammation in the lungs of asthmatics seems most pronounced in small distal airways although central airways also show signs of inflammation". The rest of her review and commentary can be found at "http://www.inhalation.net/particle_size_and_asthma.htm".

Crayon Follow-up While not necessarily connected in a cause and effect manner but after last month's newsletter note on Tremolite fiber release from crayons, the CPSC seems to have concluded the same as we did. No risk! However, in the interest of assuring the public, the respective companies have agreed to alter their formulations. The choice of materials is not yet known. Some of us have an interest in the inhalation hazards of talc, per se. For those that have an interest in this issue, I offer a communication we received from Richard Zazenski, Director Product Safety and Analytical Services at Luzenac America In. (303-643-0404). We asked about the purity of their talc products and whether all talc contains Tremolite fragments. "Luzenac America, Inc. certifies that all the talc products produced and sold by Luzenac America, including Nicron 504, do not contain detectable quantities of asbestos or asbestiform minerals (Tremolite, actinolite, anthophyllite) when analyzed via X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), or Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX). Detection limits for SEM/EDX analyses depends on the number of fields examined (time of analysis), but is generally on the order of parts per million (ppm). Luzenac America utilizes its own Technical Center testing capabilities to monitor and validate this asbestos free certification. Luzenac America validates it's own testing protocol with an outside, independent laboratory. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. " The preceding was not paid for and is offered your for professional information only.