EFFECTS OF URANIUM ORE DUST ON CULTURED HUMAN LUNG-CELLS

Effects of uranium ore dust on cell proliferation, lipid peroxidation and micronuclei formation were compared with silica (DQ12) and titaniu m oxide in normal human distal airway epithelial cells (NHDE), human l ung cancer cells (A549) and human lung fibroblast cells. Cell prolifer ation was significantly inhibited with uranium ore dust and silica but not with titanium oxide. Lipid peroxidation was significantly enhance d only with uranium ore dust. Micronuclei formation was significantly stimulated with uranium ore dust in A549 and NHDE cells, but not in fi broblast cells. Silica stimulated micronuclei formation only in A549 c ells. The results showed the outstanding effect of uranium ore dust on lipid peroxidation and micronuclei formation in human lung cells comp ared to silica and titanium dioxide. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.