Nose-only inhalations of high-dose alumina nanoparticles/hydrogen chloride gas mixtures induce strong pulmonary pro-inflammatory response: a pilot study.

Objective: Solid composite propellants combustion, in aerospace and defense fields, can lead to complex aerosols emission containing high concentrations of alumina nanoparticles (AlO NPs) and hydrogen chloride gas (HCl). Exposure to these mixtures by inhalation is thus possible but literature data toward their pulmonary toxicity are missing. To specify hazards resulting from these combustion aerosols, a pilot study was implemented.