Anthracite coal briquette gas is a unique environmental pollutant gas ubiquitous in Korea and is a mixed gas containing CO, SO₂, NO₂, and H₂S. Numerous studies have been carried out on the health effect of major air pollutants but most of them were made on the effect by individual gas and were mainly confined to the respiratory system. On the other hand, research of the toxic effects of air pollutants on the tonsil which is subject to contact with various biological agents and air pollutants is still unsatisfactory. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effects of anthracite coal briquette gas on the tonsil through elucidation of pathological changes of rabbit acutely and chronically exposed to anthracite coal briquette gas. Fifty rabbits were used and divided into 3 groups;6 were control group, 30 were acute exposure group and 14 were chronic exposure group. The results were as follows ; 1) Inflammatory reaction was evident in the tonsil of acute exposure group with no definite difference between 1 hour and 3 hours exposure group. 2) In acute exposure group, inflammatory reaction subsided according to the time elapse after exposure to briquette gas, which was most evident in 3 hours exposure group. 3) In chronic exposure group, all of the 3 groups(1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks exposure groups) showed tonsillar inflammation. 3 weeks exposure group showed most severe inflammation with relatively more plasma cell infiltration. 4) Oropharyngeal mucosa of control and experimental groups showed no inflammation. The tonsil which is located at the entrance of respiratory and digestive system seems reactive not only to the biological invasion but also to the air pollutants.