ABSTRACT
Recent data from deep uranium mines in Czechoslovakia indicated that in addition to radon daughter products, miners are also exposed to chemical mutagens. Mycotoxins were identified as a possible source of mutagenicity present in the mines. Various methods of biomonitoring were used to examine three groups of miners from different uranium mines. Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in lymphocytes, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in both plasma and lymphocytes were studied on 66 exposed miners and 56 controls. Throat swabs were taken from 116 miners and 78 controls. Significantly increased numbers of aberrant cells were found in all groups of miners, as well as decreased UDS values in lymphocytes and increased LPO plasma levels in comparison to controls. Molds were detected in throat swabs from 27% of miners, and 58% of these molds were embryotoxic. Only 5% of the control samples contained molds and none of them was embryotoxic. The following mycotoxins were isolated from miners' throat swab samples: rugulosin, sterigmatocystin, mycophenolic acid, brevianamid A, citreoviridin, citrinin, penicilic acid, and secalonic acid. These data suggest that mycotoxins are a genotoxic factor affecting uranium miners.
Subject(s)
Mining , Mutation , Uranium , Adult , Chromosome Aberrations , Czechoslovakia , DNA/biosynthesis , Environmental Monitoring , Humans , Lipid Peroxidation , Lung Neoplasms/etiology , Male , Mycotoxins/adverse effects , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Occupational ExposureABSTRACT
The paper deals with assessment of the cariosity of teeth, hygiene of the oral cavity, needs and quality of treatment in 126 dental medical students, Palacký University, Olomouc in the school year 1987/88. From the assembled results it may be concluded that the health consciousness of care of oral health even in groups of interested persons, as we may anticipate in dental the students is not reflected in their attitude to their own health. This is the more problematical as it may make us think that health education is not a sufficient impulse for medical students.
