[Concentration of heavy elements and their compounds in the cells from BALF and pulmonary tumors in radiation-exposed subjects]. / Soderzhanie tiazhelykh élementov i ikh soedinenii v kletkakh bronkhoaal'veoliarnykh smyvov i v tkaniakh opukholei legkikh u lits, podvergavshikhsia radiatsionnomu vozdeistviiu.

AIM: Measurement of heavy elements in alveolar macrophages (AM) of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and pulmonary tumor tissue (PTT); investigation of spacial distribution of the heavy particles in the tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laser mass-spectrometry estimated quantitative and qualitative characteristics of heavy elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zr, etc.) in diagnostic and therapeutic BAL of 6 patients exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl accident and in pulmonary tumor tissue of patients operated for central small-cell and peripheral bronchoalveolar cancer who also had been exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl. RESULTS: Heavy elements concentration in the secondary BAL was less than in the primary one. This shows effectiveness of the procedures aimed at removal of heavy particles from the respiratory organs. Heavy elements content was quite different in two histologically different tumors. CONCLUSION: Laser mass-spectrometry proved its usefulness in simultaneous study of the quantity and quality of heavy elements in AM of BAL and tumors in radiation-exposed subjects, in investigation of the elements distribution in the pulmonary tissues and changes of elements composition in the tissues in the course of tumors development.

[Cytological characteristics, elemental composition of alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage, lung pathology in liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl power plant]. / Tsitologicheskie osobennosti, élementnyi sostav al'veoliarnykh makrofagov bronkhoal'veoliarnykh smyvov, patomorfologiia legkikh u likvidatorob posledstvii avarii na Chernobyl'skoi AES.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), broncho- and transbronchial biopsies were examined in Chernobyl wreckers eleven years after the accident. Cytologically and electron-microscopically, there was predominance of alveolar macrophages (AM) with many cytoplasmic foreign bodies containing clear needle-like crystals. Roentgenospectral analysis and laser mass-spectrometry revealed chemical elements which are part of non-active "hot particles" (Al, Si, Ca, Fe) as well as reactor fuel elements and the station constructive materials which are the active part of "hot particles". Programmed BALF allowed to decrease cytosis and the amount of AM containing foreign-body particles as well as concentration of the majority of chemical elements in AM.