[Evaluation of the effect of the detergent Rokafenol N-8 on the development and course of experimental pneumoconiosis caused by coal mine dust].

Experimental investigation was conducted in order to evaluate the impact of the Rokafenol N-8 detergent upon the development and course of experimental pneumoconiosis caused by mine dusts. albino rats were used for the experiment. Methodological assumptions were elaborated based on the analogy with the conditions observed at the workplaces, where means of dustiness control are used.

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

Animal study was carried out to determine biological aggressiveness of mining dust by means of pulmonary tests. Dust samples, 50 mg settled dust, a mixture from 3 different mine layers (sample A) and 50 mg dust collected by the gravimetric method from different mine layers (sample B) were administered in two respective test groups by a single intratracheal injection. Silica content, determined according to Polezhayev, was found to range from 4.

[Evaluation of general toxicity of detergent Rokafenol-8 and its effect on the aggressiveness of coal mine dust].

Experiments aimed at testing the toxicity of the detergent (Rokafenol N-8) and determination of the biological effect of the detergent and mine dust with respect to histopathological changes in some internal organs were performed on albino rats and rabbits. The acute toxicity testing was based on determination of the medial lethal dose (LD50) after intragastric administration. Irritating action of the detergent on skin and eye was evaluated.

Validation of clinical criteria for diagnosing asbestosis in asbestos-cement workers.

The recently developed diagnostic criteria for asbestosis, including chest x-ray abnormalities and respiratory impairment consistent with interstitial lung fibrosis, were tested in 550 current asbestos-cement workers. The findings showed the correlation of x-ray ILO/UC scores for small irregular opacities (s, t, u) with duration of exposure, especially evident in relation to category of 1/2 and above ("cutoff category") detected in 48 subjects. An increasing x-ray score was accompanied by more functional abnormality, demonstrated by a restrictive defect in ventilation, followed by a fall in arterial oxygen pressure on exercise and impaired diffusing capacity.