Blood rheology of dogs chronically exposed to air pollutants

Measurements with the Wells-Brookfield cone-plate microviscometer revealed no significant differences in blood viscosity between controls and female beagles exposed to laboratory produced air pollutants daily for 4 years, despite significant elevations of carboxyhemoglobin in four treatment groups. Air pollutant treatments included: raw auto exhaust (RAE), irradiated auto exhaust (IAE), oxides of sulfur (SO_x), RAE + SO_x, IAE + SO_x, “low” nitric oxide + “high” nitrogen dioxide, “high” nitric oxide + “low” nitrogen dioxide. The control treatment was temperature- and humidity-conditioned, filtered clean air.