title: The wild rat as sentinel animal in the environmental risk assessment of asbestos pollution: a pilot study.
abstract: Asbestos has been banned in many countries, including Italy. However, sources of exposure may still exist, due to asbestos in-situ or past disposal of asbestos-containing waste. In an urban area with past high environmental exposure, like Casale Monferrato, the lung fiber burden in sentinel animals may be useful to identify such sources. A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility of its determination in wild rats, a suitable sentinel species never used before for environmental lung asbestos fiber burden studies. Within the framework of pest control campaigns, 11 adult animals from 3 sites in the urban area of Casale Monferrato and 3 control rats from a different, unexposed town were captured. Further, 3 positive and 3 negative control lung samples were obtained from laboratories involved in breeding programs and conducting experimental studies on rats. Tissue fiber concentration was measured by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry. Asbestos (chrysotile and crocidolite) was identified in the lungs from rats from Casale Monferrato, but not in control rats and in negative control lung samples. Asbestos grunerite at high concentration was found in positive control lung samples. Measurement of the lung fiber burden in wild rats has proved feasible: it was possible not only to detect, but also to characterize asbestos fibers both qualitatively and quantitatively. The pilot study provides the rationale for using wild rats as sentinels of the soil contamination level in Casale Monferrato, to identify areas with the possible presence of previously unrecognized asbestos sources.
authors: Via Bligny 4, 15033 Casale Monferrato, AL, Italy. Electronic address: mikeardi@libero.it.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Ardizzone
authors: Regione Bocca 16/A,15034 Cellamonte, AL, Italy.
authors: Carlotta
authors: C
authors: Vizio
authors: Histopathology Laboratory, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta (IZSPLVA), Torino, Italy.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Bozzetta
authors: Histopathology Laboratory, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta (IZSPLVA), Torino, Italy.
authors: Marzia
authors: M
authors: Pezzolato
authors: Histopathology Laboratory, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta (IZSPLVA), Torino, Italy.
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Meistro
authors: Animal Diagnostic Department, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta (IZSPLVA), Torino, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Dondo
authors: Animal Diagnostic Department, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta (IZSPLVA), Torino, Italy.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Giorgi
authors: Local Health Authority of Alessandria and Asti, Italy.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Seghesio
authors: Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Torino and CPO Piemonte, Torino, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates "G. Scansetti", University of Torino, Italy.
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Mirabelli
authors: Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates "G. Scansetti", University of Torino, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Italy.
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Capella
authors: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Italy.
authors: Ruggero
authors: R
authors: Vigliaturo
authors: Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates "G. Scansetti", University of Torino, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, CNR, Unit of Torino, Italy.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Belluso
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D001194:Asbestos
keywords: Asbestos pollution; Environmental risk assessment; SEM–EDS; Sentinel animals