Twelve-week study of moxa smoke: occupational exposure in female rats

OBJECTIVE: To assess the toxicity of moxa smoke in rats. METHODS: Forty-eight female Wister rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 12/group) to simulate moxa smoke exposure in Chinese medicine clinics (CMCs): the control group, and three moxa-smoke exposed groups of PM10 mass concentrations 3-5, 7-9 and 27-30 mg/m(3), respectively. These concentrations were 1 x, 2-3 x, and 7-9 x fold the concentrations found in CMCs. Exposures continued for 12 weeks (200 min/d, 5 d/week). RESULTS: No deaths were noted. After the exposure, the body weights, ratios of organ weight to body weight, urinary parameters, hematological parameters, clinical chemistry parameters and microscopic examinations revealed no obvious toxicity. CONCLUSION: Moxa smoke did not induce toxic effects in female rats in the study. These findings provide new evidence to the toxicity of moxa smoke. (C) 2019 JTCM. All rights reserved.