[The erythron system in body exposure to nitrogen oxides].

Aim: Assessment of erythron parameters in subjects exposed occupationally to nitrogen oxides polluted air versus those who work in healthy environment.

Materials And Methods: Levels of red cells, reticulocytes, packed cell volume, resistance of red cell membranes to acid buffer were measured in 95 subjects working in polluted environment and 89 healthy controls.

Results: Long-term (10 years and longer) contact with nitrogases entails a tendency to lowering of red cell number in the exposed subjects, significant rise of packed cell volume, increased mean cell volume of red cells, anisocytosis and reticulocytosis, high acid resistance of red cells and their membrane permeability.