Surface to nuclear distances in human bronchial epithelium: Relationships to penetration by Rn daughters

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Health Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199102000-00002· OSTI ID:5891057

Baldwin, F; Hovey, A; McEwen, T; O'Connor, R; Unruh, H; Bowden, D H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg (Canada)

Lung cancer in U miners is thought to be related to the inhalation of particulate Rn daughters. Since the depth of penetration by alpha particles is short, the thickness of the epithelium lining the bronchial tree may be a critical factor in the development of cancers at specific sites in the lung. The objectives of the study were to measure the thickness of the epithelium at all levels of the human bronchial tree, to determine the distances of epithelial nuclei from the mucociliary surface, and to compare these parameters in smokers and nonsmokers. Twenty-nine surgically removed specimens were examined; 26 were from smokers. No significant differences were found between smokers and nonsmokers, allowing us to treat the 29 cases as a homogeneous group. With progressive divisions of the bronchi, the epithelium decreases in thickness, and distances of nuclei from the surface are also less in the peripheral bronchi. Allowing for artefacts of tissue preparation, the mean distance from the mucociliary surface to the underlying nuclei varies between 17 and 38 microns.

• OSTI ID: 5891057
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Health Physics; (USA) Vol. 60:2; ISSN 0017-9078; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDES
AEROSOLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
BRONCHI
CARCINOGENESIS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL NUCLEI
COLLOIDS
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DIMENSIONS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EPITHELIUM
FLUIDS
GASES
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MAN
METALS
MINERS
NEOPLASMS
NONMETALS
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
RADIOINDUCTION
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SMOKES
SOLS
THICKNESS
TISSUES
TOBACCO SMOKES
URANIUM
VERTEBRATES