Abstract :The effects of industrial fibrous dusts on the respiratory system represents a potencial environmental and occupational health hazard for humans. Long time of asbestos exposure can cause pleural plaques, asbestosis and oncological diseases. From these facts follow important tasks on the deep and broad research activities aiming at the study of the effects of fiber substitutes.
The aim of the present work was to find out the influence of asbestos and asbestos substitute mineral fibres (ASMF) on selected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters as well as dose and time dependence of studied fibrous dust effect.
The 2 types of substitutes (rock wool, glass fibers) as well as amosite asbestos were intratracheal instilled at 2 doses (2 and 8 mg/animal). Following parameters in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after 4 and 16 week exposure were investigated: Inflammatory response parameters: The number of leukocytes / ml, the number of alveolar macrophages (AM) / ml, the differential number of cells (% AM; Gr; Ly). Cytotoxic parameters: Phagocytic activity of AM, viability of AM, the lactate dehydrogenase activity, the acid phosphatase activity, the cathepsin D activity (in the cell-free lavage fluid and in the BAL suspension).
Sequential arrangement of examined fibrous dust according to their harmfulness from the point of view of inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters after intra tracheal instillation:
Amosite > Rockwool > Glass fibers.