[Significance of mixed function oxidases for evaluation of the harmful effects of chemicals on exposed persons].

The significance of the mixed function oxidases (MFO) for hygienic toxicology is determined by the exceptional role of that enzyme system in the biotransformation of xenobiotics. On the other hand, the changes in MFO activity are some of the basic mechanisms in organism adaptation to repeated toxic exposures. An original method is elaborated for the assessment of MFO activity, used in the examinations of workers, exposed to carbon sulphide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic solvents, vinylchloride and styrene. Representative groups from the population, that live in a region with strongly polluted atmospheric air were studied. The results obtained reveal that the alterations in MFO activity are an early manifestation of compensatory strain of adaptive mechanisms of organisms and could be used in the diagnosis of premorbid states with chemical etiology, in checking the conformity of MAC in force, for the purposes of vocational selection, etc. The method is easy to perform and could be used for the purposes of therapeutic-diagnostic activity in some other medical specialties: gastroenterology, infectious diseases, etc.