Effect of Aluminium on the Silicosis-Producing Action of Inhaled Quartz

King, E. J.; Wright, Bob; Ray, Souvik; Harrison, C. V.

doi:10.1136/oem.7.1.27

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(6 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the 1950s–70s, toxicologists began investigating the structure-toxicity relationship with a new approach. King and Wright [27] in the UK and Daniel et al [11] in France reported modifications of CS with aluminum compounds and their influence on experimental responses to quartz dust. Nagelschmidt [34] pointed out that contact of the quartz surface with minerals, metals or metal salts modifies its toxic potential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The puzzling issue of silica toxicity: are silanols bridging the gaps between surface states and pathogenicity?

Pavan¹,

Piane

Gullo

et al. 2019

Part Fibre Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Silica continues to represent an intriguing topic of fundamental and applied research across various scientific fields, from geology to physics, chemistry, cell biology, and particle toxicology. The pathogenic activity of silica is variable, depending on the physico-chemical features of the particles. In the last 50 years, crystallinity and capacity to generate free radicals have been recognized as relevant features for silica toxicity. The ‘surface’ also plays an important role in silica toxicity, but this term has often been used in a very general way, without defining which properties of the surface are actually driving toxicity. How the chemical features (e.g., silanols and siloxanes) and configuration of the silica surface can trigger toxic responses remains incompletely understood. Main body Recent developments in surface chemistry, cell biology and toxicology provide new avenues to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the adverse responses to silica particles. New physico-chemical methods can finely characterize and quantify silanols at the surface of silica particles. Advanced computational modelling and atomic force microscopy offer unique opportunities to explore the intimate interactions between silica surface and membrane models or cells. In recent years, interdisciplinary research, using these tools, has built increasing evidence that surface silanols are critical determinants of the interaction between silica particles and biomolecules, membranes, cell systems, or animal models. It also has become clear that silanol configuration, and eventually biological responses, can be affected by impurities within the crystal structure, or coatings covering the particle surface. The discovery of new molecular targets of crystalline as well as amorphous silica particles in the immune system and in epithelial lung cells represents new possible toxicity pathways. Cellular recognition systems that detect specific features of the surface of silica particles have been identified. Conclusions Interdisciplinary research bridging surface chemistry to toxicology is progressively solving the puzzling issue of the variable toxicity of silica. Further interdisciplinary research is ongoing to elucidate the intimate mechanisms of silica pathogenicity, to possibly mitigate or reduce surface reactivity.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The puzzling issue of silica toxicity: are silanols bridging the gaps between surface states and pathogenicity?

Pavan¹,

Piane

Gullo

et al. 2019

Part Fibre Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This trial was designed to show the effect, if any, of aluminium dust inhalation on established cases of pneumoconiosis in potters and coalworkers; from its clear-cut results it cannot be concluded that aluminium dust given prophylactically to men exposed to a quartz hazard will be equally ineffective. King, Wright, Ray, and Harrison (1950) have made further animal investigations using the inhalation technique: one series of rats was exposed to a cloud of quartz with 2% metallic aluminium powder, and another series was exposed to pure quartz powder. At intervals the animals were killed and the lungs examined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Use was therefore made of a technique developed for exposing animals for long periods to controlled concentrations of airborne dust (King and others, 1950), in which dust is fed by means of a special mechanism (Wright, 1950) into an air stream which is blown into a chamber. This gives satisfactory control of concentration and a supply of fresh air for breathing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%