Fig. 1.

Bromine (Br₂) inhalation increases mortality and causes respiratory distress and acute cardiopulmonary injury in survivors. Rats were exposed to Br₂ (600 ppm, 30 or 45 min) and returned to room air. Rats were observed for clinical symptoms for 48 h, and Kaplan-Meier curves were generated for survival data (dotted line, 600 ppm for 30 min; solid line, 600 ppm for 45 min dose) (A). B−D: deterioration in clinical scores (B), decrease in O₂ saturation (C) and heart rate (D). Lung injury was determined by increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein (E) and lung wet-to-dry weight ratios (F). Cardiac injury was indicated by increased troponin (G) and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (hFABP) (H). Increased NH₂-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; I) in plasma and increases in heart-to-body weight ratios (HW/BW; J) also indicated heart damage. Data are means ± SE; n = 8 for each group. *P < 0.05 vs. 0 ppm.