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Med. Pr. 2005;56(3)

Effect of metals, benzene, pesticides and ethylene oxide on the haematopoietic system

Wpływ narażenia na metale, benzen, pestycydy i tlenek etylenu na układ krwiotwórczy

Angelika Pyszel1, Tomasz Wróbel2, Andrzej Szuba1, Ryszard Andrzejak1 1 Z Kliniki Chorób Wewnętrznych, Zawodowych i Nadciśnienia Tętniczego 2 Z Kliniki Hematologii, Nowotworów Krwi i Transplantacji Szpiku Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu

Abstract

The hematopoietic system, due to intensive cells proliferation, is very sensitive to toxic substances. Many chemicals, including benzene, pesticides (dithiokarbamines), ethylene oxide and metals (mercury, cadmium, chrome, cobalt, lead, aluminum) exert their toxic effect on the hematopoietic system. Exposure to each of these substances may occur in the work place due to environmental pollution and in municipal or residential areas. Exposure to lead, aluminum, cadmium, and benzene results in the incidence of anemia. In addition, exposure to benzene and its metabolites leads to myelodysplastic syndromes, leukemia, lymphomas and bone marrow aplasia. Ethylene oxide induces neoplasm of the hematopoietic system and lymphomas, especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Arsenic compounds act like immunosuppressants. Mercury and chrome affect the immune system by immunosupression and by evoking autoimmune reactions. Dithiocarbamates are suspected to induce leukemia. An analysis of the pathophysiology of individual substances reveal universal toxic mechanisms. In this paper, the authors discuss the pathomechanism of toxic effects of the aforesaid chemicals on the haematopoietic system and peripheral blood cells from the viewpoint of mutagenesis, apoptosis, myelotoxicity, anemia, immunomodulation, and individual sensitivity.

Key words

toxicity, mutagenesis, apoptosis, immunomodulation, individual sensitivity