INVESTIGATION ON ARTERIOSCLEROSIS AMONG POPULATION IN A RARE-EARTH AREA IN SOUTH CHINA

An ophthalmofunduscope was used to investigate arteriosclerosis among villagers aged 20-40 yr old in two rare earth areas in Ganzhou, Jiangx i Province. It was noted that the occurrence of arteriosclerosis of th e fundus aculi was significantly high (P < 0.05-0.01), the detection o f serum cholesterol (CHO) was remarkably increased (P < 0.01), and the level of IgM was also elevated. However, high-density lipoprotein (HD L) remained at a low level. The effect of taking rare earth elements ( REE) could be direct or indirect, thus causing an increase in choleste rol and interfering with the synthesis of high-density lipoprotein. Fu rthermore, rare earth could also cause immunogenic damage to the vascu lar wall. All of these could facilitate the formation of arteriosclero sis.