PATHOLOGY OF RESPIRATORY TRACT IN FORMER WORKERS IN MUSTARD GAS FACTORY

A REVIEW

Abstract

Mustard Gas (MG), a potent carcinogen, has been elucidated to induce lung cancer, by means of long-term clinical observation in former workers in MG factory on Okunojima, Hiroshima prefecture. On this rare occasion, an opportunity to observe pulmonary carcinogenetic process in human was given. Histological research on bronchial epithelium revealed the presence of preneoplastic lesions including dysplasia and various types of hyperplastic or metaplastic lesions. Furthermore, recent progresses in research techniques on genetic abnormality have been applied to analyze specific genetic changes related to exposure to MG, in order to clarify multistep carcinogenesis of bronchial epithelium. The knowledge obtained through research of former workers in MG factory should prove useful to understand chemical carcinogenesis in humans.