[Several immunological characteristics of occupational exposure to asbestos and other mineral fibers].
The authors evaluated some immunologic factors in workers exposed to asbestos, basalt and glass fibres and compared the results with a control reference group. The findings indicate that there is a considerable difference between the immunologic reaction of the organism, mainly when the humoral component of the answer is taken into account, in the exposed and in the control group. The same observation was valid, when the asbestos exposed group was compared with the groups exposed to asbestos substitutes (basalt and glass fibres). The immunoglobulins of the classes A, G, M, complement components C3 and C4 were significantly increased, alpha-1-antitrypsin and phagocytic activity of leukocytes in peripheral blood was decreased. Most of the examined indicators in the basalt- and glass fibres exposed groups differed insignificantly from the control group. Transferrin level was not significantly different in any of the examined groups. The results indicate that there is higher tolerability of basalt and glass fibres in the organism compared with asbestos fibres.