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Biomedical subjects

E Wiecek

Publications and source records attributed to E Wiecek.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Identification of crystalline phases and various metal content of fibrous minerals (Polish asbestos) found in nickel ore deposits].

Nickel ore deposits near Szklary in Lower Silesia are accompanied by minerals of clearly fibrous structure ("Polish asbestos"). The pulverization process of those minerals yields particles resembling fibres. Basing on the diffractometric characteristics and absorptive spectra analysis in infrared, crystalline phases were identified in five dust samples of those minerals. The major crystalline phases were found to be: anthophyllite (samples 1, 2, 3), quartz (samples 2, 3, 5) and antigorite (samples 4 and 5). Tests on X-ray spectrometer SPARK-1 indicated that all the samples contained ferrum (1-2%), nickel (0,08-0,15%), copper (below 0,005%), in one sample the content of zinc amounted to 0.006%, in the other the content of zinc and chromium was lower than their detectability limit. Air dustiness in the nickel ore mine and nickel ore processing plant may result in serious diseases in those inhaling the dust. The pollution of air, water and soil in the mine environs cannot be neglected, either.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1981

[Experimental silicosis. II. Effects of high temperature of fibrogenic effect of quartz and quartz sands used in ceramics].

Fibrogenic effects of siliceous ceramic raw materials (quartz and quartz sand), heated at 1200 degrees C for 72 hours (conditions of ceramic products burning) have been investigated. The evaluation of fibrogenic effects has been based on wet lungs weight and hydroxyproline content in rats' lungs after an intratracheal administration of 50 mg of the test dust, during 3 and 6 months' experiment. The obtained results indicate that high temperature affects the polymorphous transformation of silica. The transformation varies, e.g. crystabillite has been found in quartz, whereas in quartz sands, quartz has been found apart from crystaballite. In the Isere quartz from Nowosolna crystalline silica content has been decreased, as compared to unheated samples. Heating does not reduce fibrogenic effects of some samples e.g. quartz sand from Biała Góra), or the activity may be increased (e.g. quartz sand from Winiary), or is not changed (quartz from Austria). The tendency of changes in biological aggressiveness of siliceous dusts subjected to high temperature cannot be foreseen, as those changes depend on different factos, among others on the content of various impurities.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Evaluation of working environment in the textile industry. IV. Dust concentration in the air of the flax spinning and weaving plants].

Evaluation of dust concentration in the air of spinning and weaving rooms was made by gravimetric sampling of dust in 3 flax plants, where short flax fibres (flax--tow) and long flax fibres were manufactured. Besides, the dispersion of dusts and concentration of free silica were determined. The highest concentration of dust (10 mg/m3) was found in hackling room, mixing mill, and the one where spreading machines are operated, while in the carding room it was - 7.0 mg/m3. In other shops the concentration was - 5.5 mg/m3. The dust in the air of spinning rooms contained 2.3% of free silica and 53% of its particles were smaller than 5 micrometers. In the weaving rooms it contained 1.6% of free silica and 57% particles were smaller than 5 micrometers. The geometric mean of dust concentration higher than MAC for vegetable dusts (4 mg/m3) was found in hackling mill, mixing mill and the one where spreading machines are operated.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1980

[Measurement and evaluation of air contamination by dust in the Federal Republic of Germany].

The paper presents hygienic standards, either currently valid in the GFR or planned to be introduced in 1982, for industrial dusts containing free crystalline silica and asbestos. In addition, methods and apparatus for measuring dust respirable fraction concentrations at workplaces are discussed, as well as principles of work conditions evaluation and hygienic interpretation of measurements results. The basis of this interpretation is an assumption that the MAK (Maximale Arbeits-platzkonzentrationen) values for the dusts containing crystalline forms of silica and TRK (technische Richtkonzentrationen) for the dusts containing asbestos are average values for 1 year. Dustiness at workplaces is also evaluated for 1 year.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1979

[Determination of free crystalline silica in the dust containing silicates].

The content of free crystalline silica in dusts containing silicates was investigated using Polezajew's method, the HBF4 method and X-ray diffraction. Polezajew's method was found to give highly increased results (133.4% on the average), and with 5% of quartz in mixture with kaolin--252%. Solution of silicates, when heated, in fluoroboric acid considerably reduces the error of determination. The mean value of SiO2 recovery in mixtures of quartz with kaolin is 102.9% and with 5% of quartz--116. This method is highly precise. The results of determination of crystalline silica content in some mineral raw materials used in ceramic industry approximated the results obtained using X-ray diffraction.

Crystallization↗
PubMed1979

[Experimental silicosis. I. Fibrogenic activity of quartz material used in the ceramic industry].

A high concentration of silica dust in the air many workstands in ceramic plants is a serious risk for the health of exposed workers. It can cause the development of silicosis. The aim of this paper is to evaluate a fibrogenic activity of dusts containing 98% crystalline silica. The ceramic masses have about 25% of Quartz. The samples of 2 lode quartz and 4 sand quartz originated from different mines in Poland were used for the experiment. Their physical properties were analysed by X-ray diffraction and SiO2 content was determined by colorimetry. Their biological aggresiveness was characterised by wet weight, hydroxyproline content, lipid level in the lungs and wet weight of mediastinal lymph nodes of rats which were intratracheally given of the dusts. The results show that the tested dusts have a moderated fibrogenic activity. At short time (3 months) after their administration the fibrogenic changes in lungs were different depending on the kind of dusts, but at the 6th month of the experiment they did not differ at all. The exposition of workers to silica dusts is a great occupational hazard.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1979

[Air concentration of asbestos fibers at work sites].

The paper presents a method for measuring the concentration of asbestos fibres at workplaces. This method consists in sampling the dusted air onto membrane filters, making the filters transparent and counting asbestos fibres under an optical microscope with a positive phase contrast. Errors in counting asbestos fibres, sampling and precision of the method were discussed (total error of the method). Measurements of the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air at workplaces were made at plants producing asbestos textile products, seal plates, packings and frictional goods. 0.1 fibre/cm3 was the lowest concentration (sensitiveness of the method).

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1978

[Experimental silicosis. II. Fibrogenic effect of natural amorphous silica].

Fibrogenic effect of two natural amorphous silica dusts-diatomite from deposits near Leszczawka (Poland) and silica earth (from the USA) was tested on the rats. Pneumoconiosis was produced by intratracheal introduction of 50 mg dust, at a single dose. Fibrogenic effect was assessed after 3, 6 and 9 months after introduction of dust. Analysis of diatomite dust carried out with X-ray diffraction method showed the presence of quartz in a quantity not exceeding 5%, while in silica earth dust from the USA no silica critalline structures were found. Development of fibrogenic changes in lungs of the rats assessed with hydroxyproline (collagen) increase and weight increment of wet lungs was small. The increment of the indices was twice higher as compared with their increment found in the lungs of control animals but lower than in the rats which were given cristalline silica dusts. In histopathological examinations no progressive lung fibrosis was found though some signs of destruction and necrobiosis in some cells were noticed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Experimental silicosis. Evaluation of the silicogenic properties of apatites and phosphorites].

White rats were intratracheally injected with 50 mg of apatite or phosphorite dust. The animals were killed 3, 6 and 10 months after the injection. Fibrogenic properties were evaluated on the basis of biochemical and histopathological studies. It was found that the dusts under examination after 3 months of experiment induced a statistically significant increase of wet and dry lungs weight, of hydroxyproline and lipids content in the lungs, and intrathroacic lymph nodes as compared with the control group. After 3 and 10 months, a further but statistically insignificant increase of hydroxyproline content in lungs and of wet lung weight was observed, as compared with animals in the 3--months experiment. The obtained values of fibrogenic action indices for apatite and phosphorite dusts were quite similar to the values obtained in animals injected with inert dust of titanium dioxide. They were 4--5 times lower than the indices obtained after administrating the river sand--a dust of strong fibrogenic properties. Histopathological studies primarily revealed inflammatory changes in bronchial and peribronchial tissue, and focal emphysematous changes, whereas no features of a progressive development of fibrous changes in lungs. The MAC values of 6 mg/m3 for phosphorite dust of 8 mg/m3 for apatite dust--were suggested.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Retention of radioactive aerosols (products of radon-222 decay) by various types of anti-dust masks].

The paper presents results of measurements of the efficiency of retention of radon decay products, occurring as radioactive aerosols, by anti-dust masks. The efficiency of three types of masks: PM-1, PM-3, PP-2 "Delta" was studied under various conditions of equilibrium between radon and products of its decay in the air. It was concluded that the efficiency of retention of radon decay products, occurring as radioactive aerosols, by the mentioned types of masks, comes to 75--87%. Anti-dust PM-1 (F-14 filter) and PM-3 (F-13 filter) masks are recommended as most efficient.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1977

[Specific surface factor of dust particles and preliminary selection of silica dusts].

The results of particles analysis of three kinds of silica dust by means of miscroscopy and sedimentation in Andreasen's pipette served as a base for the determination of factor phi specific for particle surface. This factor is expressed as a ratio of the mean projected diameter (dp) to the aerodynamic diameter (d). The formula of the factor is: (formula: see text). The value of factor phi for tested silica dusts ranges from 2.0 to 2.6 (mean value--2.3), while the variability coefficient is 13.5%. Taking into account the value of factor phi determined by experiment and the value of dispersion of silica dust particles, the expected permeability of the selector (elutriator) and the deposition of dust in lungs were calculated.

Dust↗