[Comparative study of harmful effect of pyrophyllite dust in two mines]

Labour hygienic investigation of dust factor and epidemiological investigation of pneumoconiosis were carried out in two pyrophyllite mines (A and B). Effects on experimental animal and pulmonary macrophage by the pyrophyllite-mixed dust collected from these two mines were studied. Workers of long term exposure to the dust suffered from pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiotic lesions in lung tissues of dust-administered animal and cytotoxic effect of the dust on macrophage were found. Prevalence of pneumoconiosis in Mine A was 43.46%, but pneumoconiosis patient was not found in Mine B. The phenomenon was discussed.