Pneumotoxic effects of radioactive dust (RD) from a nuclear power plant in Kozloduy, Bulgaria.
BACKGROUND
Airborne radioactive particles isolated from the reactor halls of nuclear power plants are a potential risk to the respiratory system of the working staff. Such radioactive dust (RD) from the Nuclear Power Plant, Kozloduy, Bulgaria was investigated.


METHODS
The RD was administered intratracheally to 60 male Wistar rats as an aqueous suspension and the biological effects are estimated, using sensitive biological markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and important parameters of the pulmonary antioxidant defense.


RESULTS
The results obtained show that RD increases the total cell number, the activities of the lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase as well as the protein content in BALF. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in lung homogenate are decreased while activity of the glutathione peroxidase and the content of non-protein sulfhydrils is elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the RD causes transitory toxic effect on lung tissue and changes the correlation between the elements of the pulmonary antioxidative defense.
Salovsky
P
P
Department of Disaster Medicine, University School of Medicine-Pleven, 1, Kliment Ohridski St., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria.
Shopova
V
V
Dancheva
V
V
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D002031:Bulgaria; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011210:Power Plants; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive