RESUMO
In this work, three groups of human cases were investigated. The first served as control, [8 cases] the second was non-symptomatic cigarette smokers [30 cases] and the third was symptomatic cigarette smokers [36 cases] that was in turn divided into three equal subgroups; asthmatic, COPD and cancer lung subgroups. All groups were examined for ventilatory function tests [FVC, FEV1, FEV1% and FEF 25-75%], arterial blood gases, [PaO2 and PaC02], pH and blood levels of lead[212], lead [214] and cesium[137]. There was a significant decrease in all the ventilatory tests, PaO2 and increase PaCO2 in the third group in relation to the control and non-symptomatic groups. The pH of blood showed no change. The lead[212], lead[214] and cesium[137] gave a significant increase in both smokers groups in relation to control. The FEV1 and FEF 25-75%, lead[212], lead[214] and cesium[137] showed significant changes in between the groups to each others. Also, there was a significant negative relation between the blood lead[212] and the FEV1% test in the symptomatic group. These changes were related to the toxic contents of cigarette leaves and wrappings including the high content of the previously estimated radioisotopes