Comparative Toxicity Studies at Reduced and Ambient Pressures I. Acute Response

Comparison of the acute response to toxicants at ambient and reduced pressures (5 psia; 100% O2) were made by exposing monkeys, dogs, rats, and mice for 2 weeks of continuous inhalation exposure to NO2, O3 and CCl4. The experimental results show a definite reduction in the toxic response to the pulmonary irritants NO2 and O3 at reduced pressure when compared with ambient pressure exposures. With CCl4, a systemic toxicant, no significant differences between the animals exposed at ambient or reduced pressure were observed.