Does acute exposure to aldehydes impair pulmonary function and structure?

• As alcohol is used as fuel, the concentrations of aldehydes increase in air.
• Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde are the most common aldehydes in ambient air.
• Mice acutely breathed 3 concentrations of each aldehyde or 2 mixtures of them.
• Lung mechanics and morphology, inflammatory and redox markers were studied.
• The exposed groups did not present any relevant difference relative to controls.

Mixtures of anhydrous ethyl alcohol and gasoline substituted for pure gasoline as a fuel in many Brazilian vehicles. Consequently, the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as ketones, other organic compounds, and particularly aldehydes increased in many Brazilian cities. The current study aims to investigate whether formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, or mixtures of both impair lung function, morphology, inflammatory and redox responses at environmentally relevant concentrations.For such purpose, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to either medical compressed air or to 4 different mixtures of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Eight hours later animals were anesthetized, paralyzed and lung mechanics and morphology, inflammatory cells and IL-1β, KC, TNF-α, IL-6, CCL2, MCP-1 contents, superoxide dismutase and catalalase activities were determined. The extra pulmonary respiratory tract was also analyzed. No differences could be detected between any exposed and control groups.In conclusion, no morpho-functional alterations were detected in exposed mice in relation to the control group.