Z. Kovacikova et D. Chorvatovicova, THE CHAMBER EXPOSURE OF LABORATORY RATS TO METAL-OXIDES ORIGINATING FROM METAL PRODUCING INDUSTRY, Physiologia bohemoslovaca, 46(1), 1997, pp. 41-45
Laboratory rats were exposed to the inhalation of dust from an agglome
ration unit which is the greatest contributor to dust pollution in the
vicinity of a mercury producing plant. The exposure lasted for 6 mont
hs (4 hours daily, 5 days per week), the concentration of aerosol in t
he chamber was 10 mg.m(-3). After finishing the exposure, the animals
were examined and compared with the controls which were held under sta
ndard laboratory conditions. The number of alveolar macrophages was hi
ghly elevated (P < 0.001) in the exposed animals, Mg2+ ATPase activity
in the heart muscle was decreased. The alanine aminotransferase activ
ity in the serum was not changed, the aspartate aminotransferase was s
lightly enhanced. No differences in the frequency of abnormal sperm an
d in the frequency of polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow were d
etected.