[Identification of inhaled dust with a noninvasive magnetometry method].

The authors performed an examination of the degree of lung contamination by magnetic compounds present in gases originating during welding in 33 persons divided into four groups. The measurement was performed by a noninvasive magnetometric method using a high sensitive SQUID and second degree gradiometric antenna with presumed maximum sensitivity of 60 micrograms of magnetic compound/cm3. In the selected three groups of welders working for a long period of time under the conditions of exposure, the changes of the magnetic field were particularly evident in the group working in small confined spaces.

Smoke cardiomyopathy: disturbance of oxidative processes in myocardial mitochondria.

The effect of inhalation of cigarette smoke (passive smoking) on the oxidative and phosphorylating processes of rabbit myocardial mitochondria was studied in three experimental models after a single smoke lasting 30 min, after 2 weeks smoking twice daily and after 8 weeks smoking twice daily. A significant decrease in respiration as well as in the phosphorylation rate of mitochondria was found; whereas the respiratory control index and coefficient of oxidative phosphorylation did not change. Both factors of cigarette smoke (carbon monoxide and nicotine) participate in the metabolic injury of mitochondria.