Effects of Gasoline and Oxygenated Gasoline Inhalation on Lungs and Trachea in Rats

Effects of 1, 2 and 3 month - inhalation of 1216, 1824, and 2432ppm of gasoline representing GO1, GO2 and GO3 respectively were studied in rats. The OG1, OG2 and OG3 groups, represent 2432ppm of gasoline oxygenated with 1, 2 and 3% of equal volumes of methanol and isopropyl ether, respectively. Lung collapse was observed in all the groups after 3 months of exposure except in the control. In GO3 however, the severity of lung collapse was high with pneumonitis. Groups OG2 and OG3 showed mild to moderate lung collapse. This shows that oxygenation reduced the severity of lung collapse. In the trachea, there was fragmentation of muscle fibers which is more severe in GO3 groups leading to hemorrhage into the lumen of the trachea. It was generally observed from the study, that inhalation of high concentrations of gasoline for a long time like 3 months may be deleterious to health.