[Evaluation of fibrotic effects from dusts originating from KWK "Brzeszcze" on lung tissue].

In order to determine biological aggressiveness of settled dusts 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 of evaluation fibrogenic potentials by means of: a) intraperitoneal test--to identify morphological type of reactive changes in 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 findings of collagen levels in lungs. After the end of the experimental period (3 and 6 months) histopathological examination of the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes was made and the collagen levels in the pulmonary tissue (following Stegeman) were determined. As evidenced by the results of the pathomorphological examination and statistical analysis: 1) after intratracheal injection the mining dusts induced changes within the respiratory system e.g. inflammatory process and emphysema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)