Subchronic inhalation toxicity of iron oxide (magnetite, Fe₃O₄) in rats: pulmonary toxicity is determined by the particle kinetics typical of poorly soluble particles

Wistar rats were nose‐only exposed to pigment‐sized iron oxide dust (Fe₃O₄, magnetite) in a subchronic 13‐week inhalation study according to the OECD testing guidelines TG#413 and GD#39. A 4 week pilot study with a 6 month post exposure period served as basis for validating the kinetic modeling approaches utilized to design the subchronic study. Kinetic analyses made during this post exposure period demonstrated that a diminution in particle clearance and lung inflammation occurred at cumulative exposure levels exceeding the lung overload threshold. Animals were exposed 6 h per day, five days per week for 13 consecutive weeks at actual concentrations of 0, 4.7, 16.6 and 52.1 mg m⁻³ (mass median aerodynamic diameter ≈1.3 μm, geometric standard deviation = 2). The exposure to iron oxide dust was tolerated without mortality, consistent changes in body weights, food and water consumption or systemic toxicity. While general clinical pathology and urinalysis were unobtrusive, hematology revealed changes of unclear toxicological significance (minimally increased differential neutrophil counts in peripheral blood). Elevations of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) appeared to be the most sensitive endpoint of study. Histopathology demonstrated responses to particle deposition in the upper respiratory tract (goblet cell hyper‐ and/or metaplasia, intraepithelial eosinophilic globules in the nasal passages) and the lower respiratory tract (inflammatory changes in the bronchiolo‐alveolar region). Consistent changes suggestive of pulmonary inflammation were evidenced by BAL, histopathology, increased lung and lung‐associated‐lymph node (LALN) weights at 16.6 and 52.1 mg m⁻³. Increased septal collagenous fibers were observed at 52.1 mg m⁻³. Particle translocation into LALN occurred at exposure levels causing pulmonary inflammation. In summary, the retention kinetics iron oxide reflected that of poorly soluble particles. The empirical no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL) and the lower bound 95% confidence limit on the benchmark concentration (BMCL) obtained by benchmark analysis was 4.7 and 4.4 mg m⁻³, respectively, and supports an OEL (time‐adjusted chronic occupational exposure level) of 2 mg m⁻³ (alveolar fraction). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.