Cooling lubricants are used in the metal industry during drilling or turning. Vapors and aerosols of these lubricants are suspected to induce airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in exposed workers. In a previous study the authors demonstrated that water-soluble lubricants induce AHR after acute exposure of rabbits to concentrations near the German MAK value (10 mg/m(3)). In the present investigation the influence of a fatty alcohol as special non-water-soluble cooling lubricant was examined to determine its influence on airway responsiveness (AR). The effects of an aerosolized non-water-soluble lubricant (40, 90, and 220 mg/m(3)) on AR to acetylcholine in a rabbit model were studied. Lubricant atmosphere analysis was performed with infrared spectroscopy. Before exposure, after 2 and 4 hours of application, AR to aerosols from 0.2 and 2% acetylcholine was tested. Basal airway and cardiovascular parameters as well as blood gases did not change during exposure. Lubricant aerosol concentration of 40 and 220 mg/m(3) for 4 hours did not significantly alter AR. Inhalation of 90 mg/m(3) lubricant increased contractile response to ACH significantly. In contrast to formerly investigated water-soluble cooling lubricants, the examined non-water-soluble lubricant did not increase AR in concentrations near the MAK; however, in higher concentrations a significant (p<.05) increase was obtained.