title: [Asbestos substitutes and their biological effects. 2. Synthetic amphiboles--their physico-chemical characteristics].
abstract: Metal content in the chemical structure of asbestos and man-made mineral fibres can affect their carcinogenic properties. As the chemical composition (metal content) of man-made silicate substitutes for asbestos can be varied almost at will in the process of their manufacture, the search for potentially least carcinogenic silicates appears to be of utmost importance. This paper presents diffractometric characteristics, dimensional analysis and morphology data for 4 synthetic amphibole fibres with chemical compositions differing from that of natural crocidolite amphibole. Those included the following synthetic amphiboles: Na2Mg6Ge8O22(OH)2; Na2Ni6Si8O22(OH)2; Na2Mg6Si8O22(OH)2; Na2Co6Si8O22(OH)2. The studied amphiboles differed in fibre length and diameter. The magnesium amphibole contained the longest (6.03 microns) fibres, and the nickel amphibole contained the shortest (2.7 microns) fibres, resembling those of crocidolite. The highest content (54.7%) of respirable fibres was found in the magnesium amphibole, and the lowest (15.9%) in the natural crocidolite. The authors suggest that the detected differences in the physical and chemical characteristics of the synthetic amphiboles may affect their biological properties.
authors.affiliation: Zakładu Aerozoli Instytutu Medycyny Pracy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiecek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szczepaniak
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bielichowska-Cybula
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Woźniak
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D001194:Asbestos; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel; D008274:Magnesium
vernacular_title: Zamienniki azbestu i ich działanie biologiczne. 2. Amfibole syntetyczne--charakterystyka fizyczno-chemiczna.