Experimental assessment of the effect of coal dust with polymetallic salts on the respiratory tract epithelium.

Experimental assessment of the effect of coal dust from the Debiensko coal mine on the rat respiratory tract epithelium was carried out. The coal mine there contains up to 0.6 per cent of polymetallic salts including such heavy metals as Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn. Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract caused by the coal dust was proved as well as mucous membrane ulceration and epithelial dysplasia.