Histopathological evaluation of farm animals living near a uranium mine as sentinels of human’s exposure and health hazards

Background: In Portugal uranium mines were exploited producing tons of wastes that were left in these areas. Previously the genotoxic, immunotoxic and histopathological effects of environmental exposures in wildlife vertebrates and humans were assessed. Objectives: To evaluate exposure to metals and radionuclides and histopathological effects in farm animals bred nearby an uranium mine area (Central, Portugal). Besides living closer to humans they are part of their diet and can be used to predict human exposure and health effects. Material and methods: 5 adult chickens were necropsied and samples fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, for a maximum of 48h, embedded in paraffin wax, stained for routine histopathological diagnosis and also weighted frozen, lyophilized and homogenized for radionuclides’ analysis). Results: Lesions observed were compatible with a multisystemic process, with intense lymphoid infiltration and with coalescing foci of uniformly immature lymphoid cells (lymphoblastic phenotype), indicating a neoplastic limphoproliferative disease (NLD). Discussion and Conclusions: The NLD was, apparently from viral etiology, which could result from alterations in the animal´s immune system. Previously the authors found decreased levels of NK and T lymphocytes in inhabitants from the same region, which increases the organism´s susceptibility to both oncogenesis and viral infections, but also to virus-induced oncogenesis.FCT (PTDC/AAC-AMB/114057/2009) and CI&DETS (PEst-OE/CED/UI4016