Occupational exposure to Mount Etna's basaltic dust: Assessment of mutagenic and cytotoxic effects.
Basalt and volcanic ash are natural constituents of the ground surrounding volcanic areas such as Mount Etna. The dust may be daily inhaled by the general population as well as by several types of workers, such as construction workers. In this experiment, we analyzed the potential mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of the materials used in construction industry, excavated from Mt. Etna. Ground basalt (A), volcanic ash (B), mixed basalt and cement (C) and cement (D) were studied with Ames test, for mutagenic assessment and with MMT assay for cytotoxic evaluation. The Ames test revealed that cement (sample D), showed a higher and significant mutagenicity than the samples A, B and C. MTT assay showed that samples C and D had a slightly more negative impact on cell viability than A and B. In conclusion, no particular risks seem to exist for construction industry workers, while the exploitation of cement and cement mixed with basalt seems to be a risk for workers, given the high percentage of silica and iron.
Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Caterina
C
Ledda
Section of Otolaryngology, Department Medical Sciences, Surgical and Advanced Technologies 'G.F. Ingrassia', University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Cocuzza
Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
Monica
M
Salerno
Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Paola
P
Senia
Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Serena
S
Matera
Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Venerando
V
Rapisarda
Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnology Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Carla
C
Loreto
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D017640:Silicates / Q000633:toxicity*; D018707:Volcanic Eruptions / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D009153:Mutagens; D017640:Silicates; C060346:basalt