Original scientific paper

Ferruginous bodies in the lungs of urban dogs

I. Trošić ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
S. Ćurić ; Veterinary Faculty, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
M. Mataušić-Pišl ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
L. Štilinović ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
I. Zrilić ; Medical Centre, Zadar, Croatia
V. Brumen ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess health hazards induced by environmental exposure to asbestos using urban dogs as biological indicators. Samples of the lung tissue taken from 36 randomly chosen urban dogs were examined. In the group of dogs aged up to four years (n=15) ferruginous bodies were identified in only two. In the dogs older than four years (n=21) 17 were ferruginous body positive. According to Fisher's exact test the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0,001). The presence of asbestos bodies in the lungs of dogs is considered to be evidence of serious contamination of urban areas with respirable mineral fibres. The more frequent presence of asbestos bodies in the lungs of the older dogs indicates long-term accumulation of mineral fibres exceeding 10 µm in length. Continuous environmental exposure of the city's population to respirable mineral fibres may therefore pose a health risk.

Keywords

asbestos; inorganic mineral fibres; urban environment

Hrčak ID:

147191

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/147191

Publication date:

20.4.1994.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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