Impact of Different Asbestos Species and Other Mineral Particles on Pulmonary Pathogenesis

Abstract

Abstract--Factors that are potentially important in the pulmonary pathogenesis of asbestos and other mineral particles are: 1) morphology, 2) Fe-content, 3) solubility under intra-phagosomal conditions, 4) value and sign of the surface potential of the particle, 5) hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, 6) capacity to activate phagocytic leukocytes, and 7) duration of exposure to the particles. The order of importance of these factors in causing severe or fatal pulmonary pathogenicity is estimated to be: 1 > 3 > 7 > 6 >> 5 > 4 > 2. The order of pathogenicity of the minerals is estimated as: amphibole asbestos: crocidolite, tremolite, amosite > erionite > serpentine asbestos: chrysotile > talc > silica > simple metal oxides. Particle length, duration of exposure to the particles, and pre-treatment of the particles may however enhance the pathogenic potential of any of the lower-ranked particles.

Mineral fibre toxicity: expression of retinoblastoma (Rb) and phospho-retinoblastoma (pRb) protein in alveolar epithelial and mesothelial cell lines exposed to fluoro-edenite fibres

“…The present findings suggest a role for pRb as a cell cycle regulator and promoter of cell proliferation after mineral fibre exposure, whereas the level Rb expression in A549 and MeT-5A cells may not be representative. In fact, several different factors can promote tumour development in the presence of mineral fibres, including their asymmetric morphology (diameter <0.25 μm, length >8.0 μm), iron content, intra-phagosomal solubility, surface charge, hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, the ability to activate phagocytic leukocytes and exposure duration (Van Oss et al 1999).…”

From platy kaolinite to aluminosilicate nanoroll via one-step delamination of kaolinite: Effect of the temperature of intercalation

“…Because of its unique onedimensional mesoscopic/macroscopic porous structure and economic viability, halloysite has been applied as a nanoscale reactor (Shchukin et al, 2005), as a nanofiller for CPN (Hedicke-Hochstotter et al, 2009;Li et al, 2008a), and as a carrier or support for the entrapment and controlled release of functional guests (Levis and Deasy, 2002;Lvov et al, 2008;Tan et al, 2013;Yuan et al, 2012a). It is worth emphasizing that halloysite has a high level of biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, which enables its safe use in various fields (Van Oss et al, 1999;Vergaro et al, 2010).…”

The potential contribution of nanotechnology to nutritional well being

“…used for indoor lighting, internal combustion engines-this is a major source of nanoparticle pollution in cities, along with the dust generated from demolishing buildings-cooking operations, and recreational smoking. The occupational hazards from certain industries, especially mining and mineral processing (silicosis, asbestosis), are well recognized, and the physicochemical and immunological aspects on the hazards of the nanoparticles reasonably well understood [6].…”

“…Then the consumer can make his or her choice-caveat emptor. 6 In reality, it is well known that choice tends to contract. For example, nearly all the world's soybeans come from a certain (genetically modified) variety; 99% of tomatoes grown in Turkey are no longer indigenous varieties.…”