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For seven days, three times a day, female rats were instilled into their conjunctival sacs suspensions of power plant dusts, soil and clay. Clinically observed were inflammatory changes of the conjunctiva and cyclids margins as well as traumatisation of the corneal and conjunctival epithelia, appearing at different stages on the experiment. Cytoenzymatic examinations indicated disturbances of oxidation and reduction processes, changes in dialysis through physiologic membranes and dissociation of protein synthesis.

Histochemical studies of the activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the pulmonary tissue of experimental animals which were given four coal ashes issued from different thermal-electric power stations: group VII--from the thermal-electric power station Siekierki (Warsaw), group VIII--from Wrocław, group IX--from Leg (Cracow) and group XI--from Lódź, were carried out. In particular ash samples the content of trace elements and free silica was determined. The studies yield the following conclusions: 1. The activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was changed in the respiratory tract and pulmonary alveoli as a result of the electroenergetic ashes applied. 2. Changes in cytoenzymatic reactions of SDH and LDH vary with the type of ash applied. The greatest changes were found in group XI where the ashes contained almost doubled amount of such elements as Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu. 3. SDH exhibited a greater sensitivity to the effects of electroenergetic ashes, as compared to LDH. 4. Changes in the activity of the test SDH and LDH enzymes indicate disorders in oxydoreductory processes of cells.

Observations were carried out on 65 white she-rats. The animals received by+intraconjunctival+route a suspension of volatile ashes from ventilators of electricity works, a suspension of the soil from the area of the power-houses and a suspension of clay from clay mines. The animals exhibited marginal blepharitis and conjunctivitis appearing in the 3-5 days of investigation. The observations point to pollution of the soil of the power-house area and to the noxiousness of the investigated dusts which should be classified to the category of burdensome dusts.