Experimental Studies of the Conditions of Exposure to Carcinogens for Lung Cancer Induction

Abstract

A method is described for the experimental induction of lung cancer. Syrian golden hamsters, receiving repeated intratracheal administrations of benzo[a]pyrene in particulate form carried by an inert dust, develop a high incidence of bronchogenic carcinoma. The conditions of exposure to the carcinogen, involving penetration and retention of carcinogen particles in lung tissues with the dust, are of prime imvortance in the determination of the results. Instillations of the same carcinogen in other media did not induce lung tumors. The relative importance of the identification of carcinogenic materials in air pollution and of the conditions of exposure in the origin of lung cancer is discussed.