[Comparative analysis of biological aggressiveness of dusts from different coal mines for determining the risk of development of pneumoconiosis among miners].

The aim of the study was to determine the changes in the respiratory system of animals administered intratracheally settled dusts sampled from the following coal mines: "Debieńsko" in Leszczyny, "Zabrze" in Zabrze, "Gliwice" in Gliwice, "Janina" in Libiaz and "Victoria" in Wałbrzych. Total dustiness in those mines in 1985-1988 was found to be as follows: "Debieńsko"--1.39 mg/m3-22.3 mg/m3, "Zabrze"--7.6 mg/m3-16.8 mg/m3, "Janina"--16.0 mg/m3-34.0 mg/m3, "Victoria"--3.7 mg/m3-15.6 mg/m3. In the examined dusts the content of crystalline silica determined using the Polezajev's method amounted to 3.5%-9.4% in "Debieńsko", 2%-10% in "Zabrze", 3.8% in "Gliwice", 3.6%-8.4% in "Janina" and 3.7%-11% in "Victoria". The biological aggressiveness of the mine dusts was determined using intraperitoneal, lung and hemolitic tests. The biochemical determinations of hydroxyproline level were made using the Stegemann's method modified by Hurych and Chvapil. The obtained results of biochemical analyses were examined statistically using the t-Student's test. The lung sections for histopathological examination were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Collagen fibres were stained according to the Van Giesan's method. Certain discrepancies were found between epidemiological analysis concerning the incidence of pneumoconiosis and animal experiments focusing on the fibrogenic activity of the dusts from particular mines. The measurements of fibrogenic activity of dusts based on animal experiments and the determination of SiO2 content in dusts cannot be used for estimating the risk of pneumoconiosis. Therefore, biological exposure should be assessed on the basis of the monitoring of occupational environment.