Trace elements in hazardous mineral fibres.
Both occupational and environmental exposure to asbestos-mineral fibres can be associated with lung diseases. The pathogenic effects are related to the dimension, biopersistence and chemical composition of the fibres. In addition to the major mineral elements, mineral fibres contain trace elements and their content may play a role in fibre toxicity. To shed light on the role of trace elements in asbestos carcinogenesis, knowledge on their concentration in asbestos-mineral fibres is mandatory. It is possible that trace elements play a synergetic factor in the pathogenesis of diseases caused by the inhalation of mineral fibres. In this paper, the concentration levels of trace elements from three chrysotile samples, four amphibole asbestos samples (UICC amosite, UICC anthophyllite, UICC crocidolite and tremolite) and fibrous erionite from Jersey, Nevada (USA) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For all samples, the following trace elements were measured: Li, Be, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Pb, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Th, U. Their distribution in the various mineral species is thoroughly discussed. The obtained results indicate that the amount of trace metals such as Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn is higher in anthophyllite and chrysotile samples, whereas the amount of rare earth elements (REE) is higher in erionite and tremolite samples. The results of this work can be useful to the pathologists and biochemists who use asbestos minerals and fibrous erionite in-vitro studies as positive cyto- and geno-toxic standard references.
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.bloise@unical.it.
Andrea
A
Bloise
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy.
Donatella
D
Barca
Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I-41125, Modena, Italy.
Alessandro Francesco
AF
Gualtieri
Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I-41125, Modena, Italy.
Simone
S
Pollastri
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, 10125, Italy; Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates "G. Scansetti", Torino, Italy.
Elena
E
Belluso
D001194:Asbestos / Q000737:chemistry; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000633:toxicity*; D009505:Nevada; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry
D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D019016:Mineral Fibers; C083174:erionite; D017641:Zeolites; D001194:Asbestos; C005846:tremolite; C025965:anthophyllite
Asbestos; Mineral fibres; Trace elements