Retention and distribution of inhaled selenium dioxide aerosols by dog and rat: preliminary results

Beagle dogs and Fischer-344 rats were exposed to Se(IV) aerosols, primarily as SeO2. The aerosols used had activity median aerodynamic diameters of about 0.5 μm and sigma/sub g/ of 2.4. Whole-body retention and organ distribution data are presented. The primary organs of distribution for the dog 32 days after exposure based on a percent of the sacrifice body burden (% SBB) were soft tissue remainder, blood, liver, pelt, rib, small intestine and contents, kidney, paws and tail, head skin, defleshed bone and lung. On the basis of % SBB/g tissue weight the primary organs in a dog, 32 days after exposure, were kidney, turbinates, thyroid, liver, adrenal, lung, spleen, abdominal lymph nodes and blood. In rats 36 days after exposure, the head skin, kidney and liver were the major organs on a % SBB/g tissue weight basis