[Biological testing of the fibrogenic effect of dust from the "Sosnowiec" mine on the lung tissue].

In order to determine biological aggressiveness of settled dusts (mechanical, crumbled) and dusts collected using the gravimetric method, experimental studies were carried out, including: 1) evaluation of the physicochemical parameters (size of dust particles, content of silica, metals and other chemical compounds), 2) evaluation of the haemolytic activity, 3) experimental evaluation of fibrogenic potentials by means of: a) intraperitoneal test--to identity morphological type of reactive changes in the peritoneum and b) intratracheal test--to determine the level of hydroxyproline (collagen) in lungs and the morphological type of reactive changes. Albino rats were used for the experiment. The animals were divided into ten groups which received a single intratracheal injection of 50 mg of mining dust in 0.9% NaCl suspension. Comparative evaluation of biological aggressiveness of mining dusts was conducted basing on the findings of collagen levels in lungs. After the end of the experimental period (3 and 6 months, respectively) histopathological a examination of the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes was made and the collagen levels in the pulmonary tissue (following Stegemann) were determined. As evidenced by the results of the pathomorphological examination and a statistical analysis: 1) after intratracheal injection the mining dusts induced changes within the respiratory system e.g. inflammatory process and emphysema. The exposure also brought about double increase of collagen level as compared to the control group, 2) histopathological study of the lungs and lymph nodes did not reveal progressive development of fibrogenic changes, 3) cytotoxic test showed differences in the haemolytic activity of settled dust and dusts collected by the gravimetric method.