Inhalation carcinogenesis from various forms of asbestos

doi:10.1016/0013-9351(74)90050-4

Environmental Research

Volume 8, Issue 2, October 1974, Pages 178-202

https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(74)90050-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

Rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, and mice were exposed to the inhalation of chrysotile, crocidolite, or amosite for 2 years. Mean atmospheric concentrations were 47.9–50.2 mg/m³, but only 0.08–1.82% of the dusts retained fibrous morphology during the dissemination procedure which involved hammer milling. Trace contamination especially by chromium and nickel was also increased. Light microscopic fiber counts per ml chamber air were 54 (chrysotile), 1105 (crocidolite), and 864 (amosite). A fibrogenic response to these dusts was observed in all five animal species, the severity corresponding to the extent of exposure (with reaction to chrysotile frequently very slight). Gerbils developed frequent alveolar proteinosis. Mice developed spontaneous papillary carcinomas in the lungs. Disregarding the latter species, carcinogenic response to asbestos inhalation was restricted to rats and occurred in all three exposure groups. There were 2 lung cancers and 1 pleural mesothelioma after chrysotile inhalation; 4 lung cancers after crocidolite inhalation; and 1 lung cancer and 2 pleural mesotheliomas after amosite inhalation. These cases constituted 7–9% incidence of malignancy among rats with adequate survival record. Hypotheses of asbestos carcinogenesis are reviewed and it is suggested that different etiologic principles may be involved in the causation of lung cancer and of pleural mesothelioma.

References (80)

T. Burilkov et al.
Asbestos content of the soil and endemic pleural asbestosis
Environ. Res.
(1970)
J.M.G. Davis
Asbestos dust as a nucleation center in the calcification of old fibrous tissue lesions, and the possible association of this process to the formation of asbestos bodies
Exp. Mol. Pathol.
(1970)
J.M.G. Davis
Further observations on the ultrastructure and chemistry of the formation of asbestos bodies
Exp. Mol. Pathol.
(1970)
J. Graham et al.
Ovarian cancer and asbestos
Environ. Res.
(1967)
J.S. Harington et al.
Hemolysis by asbestos
Environ. Res.
(1971)
J. Jagatic et al.
Tissue response to intraperitoneal asbestos with preliminary report of acute toxicity of heat-treated asbestos in mice
Environ. Res.
(1967)
A. Morgan et al.
Studies of the solubility of constituents of chrysotile asbestos in vivo using radioactive tracer techniques
Environ. Res.
(1971)
A.L. Reeves et al.
Experimental asbestos carcinogenesis
Environ. Res.
(1971)
F.J.C. Roe
Experimental asbestos carcinogenesis
Food and Cosmet. Toxicol.
(1968)
R.J. Schnitzer et al.
Asbestos hemolysis
Environ. Res.
(1970)

I.J. Selikoff et al.

Asbestos and neoplasia

Amer. J. Med.

(1967)

S. Speil et al.

Asbestos minerals in modern technology

Environ. Res.

(1969)

A.C. Turnock et al.

The synthesis of tritiumlabeled asbestos for use in biological research

Environ. Res.

(1971)

A.C. Allison

Effects of silica and asbestos on cells in culture

H.A. Bamber et al.

Asbestos hazard from protective clothing

Ann. Occup. Hyg.

(1970)

E.G. Beck et al.

Fibrous silicates in animal experiments and cell culture-Morphological cell and tissue reactions according to different physical chemical influences

E.G. Beck et al.

Effects of chrysotile and acid-treated chrysotile on macrophage cultures

Brit. J. Ind. Med.

(1971)

G. Berry et al.

Combined effects of asbestos exposure and smoking on mortality from lung cancer in factory workers

Lancet

(1972)

E. Bey et al.

Cytotoxic effects of some mineral dusts on Syrian hamster peritoneal macrophages

J. Exp. Med.

(1971)

S.K. Botham et al.

The development of glass-fibre bodies in the lungs of guinea pigs

J. Pathol.

(1971)

S. Bryks et al.

Cytodynamic reactivity of the mesothelium-pleural reaction to chrysotile asbestos

Arch. Environ. Health

(1971)

G. Bryson et al.

Silicate-induced neoplasms

Progr. Exp. Tumor Research

(1967)

B.T. Commins et al.

Contaminating organic material in asbestos

Brit. J. Cancer

(1969)

L.J. Cralley

Electromotive phenomenon in metal and mineral particulate exposures: relevance to exposure to asbestos and occurrence of cancer

Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.

(1971)

L.J. Cralley et al.

Exposure to metals in the manufacture of asbestos textile products

Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.

(1967)

H.M. Cunningham et al.

Asbestos fibers in beverages and drinking water

Nature (London)

(1971)

H.V. Davis et al.

Collagen biosynthesis in rat lungs during exposure to asbestos

Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.

(1971)

J.R. Dixon et al.

The role of trace metals in asbestos carcinogenesis: asbestos cancers

Cancer Research

(1970)

A. Donna

Tumori Sperimentali da Amianto di Crisotilo, Crocidolite, e Amosite in Ratto

Med. Lavoro

(1970)

A.Z. El-Sewefy et al.

Immunoelectrophoretic pattern changes in asbestosis

Ann. Occup. Hyg.

(1971)

J.E. Ford

The effect of pulmonary macrophage suppression in developing asbestosis

M.A. Gerber

Asbestosis and neoplastic disorders of the hematopoietic system

Amer. J. Clin. Pathol.

(1970)

A.M. Goff et al.

Asbestosis following brief exposure in cigarette filter manufacture

Respiration

(1972)

M. Governa et al.

A histochemical study of the asbestos body coating

Brit. J. Ind. Med.

(1972)

M. Greenberg

Asbestos release from battery boxes

Ann. Occup. Hyg.

(1970)

P. Gross et al.

Experimental asbestosis

Arch. Environ. Health

(1967)

P. Gross et al.

Experimental asbestosis-The development of lung cancer in rats with pulmonary deposits of chrysotile dust

Arch. Environ. Health

(1967)

P. Gross et al.

Pulmonary ferruginous bodies in city dwellers: a study of their central fiber

Arch. Environ. Health

(1969)

P. Gross et al.

Fibrous dust particles and ferruginous bodies

Arch. Environ. Health

(1970)

J.S. Harington

Occurrence of oils containing 3,4-benzpyrene and related substances in asbestos

Nature (London)

(1962)

Cited by (44)

Mechanochemical conversion of chrysotile asbestos tailing into struvite for full elements utilization as citric-acid soluble fertilizer
2021, Journal of Cleaner Production
Citation Excerpt :
Therefore, transformation CAT to GCNP (prepared by co-milling CAT with (NH4)2HPO4, and CaHPO4) was optimal for the full elements utilization of CAT as CASF (94.54% Mg, 96.97% P, 14.02% Si, and 96.79% N recovery in citric acid). The toxicity of CAT mainly came from the high content of silicate fiber which should be eliminated for safety concern (Reeves et al., 1974; Stanton and Wrench, 1972). Fig. 5 displays the SEM images of CAT and the ground samples (GNP, GKNP, and GCNP at 600 rpm and 60 min condition).
Chrysotile asbestos tailing (CAT) are rich in magnesium and silicon which are of great value for crop growth. In this work, CAT was transformed to struvite and silicate salt for the first time by one-step milling with phosphates (NH₄H₂PO₄, (NH₄)₂HPO_4, KH₂PO₄ and CaHPO₄) for full elements utilization as citric acid soluble fertilizer (CASF). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the obtained samples. The nutrients release data revealed that CAT milling with (NH₄)₂HPO₄ and CaHPO₄ was optimal for the production of Mg, N, P, and Si compound CASF which released 0% Mg, 9.37% N, 2.02% P, and 9.86% Si in water and 94.54% Mg, 96.79% N, 96.97% P, and 14.02% Si in 2% citric acid. The prepared product held the nutrients by the mechanism of struvite crystallization in water and released the nutrients by acid-dissolution in citric acid solution. Techno-economic analysis proved the feasibility and economic value of the CASF produced by the proposed mechanochemical approach. This facile and environmentally friendly process would surely contribute to the improvement of resource utilization efficiency and create a sustainable and environmental friendly agricultural production system.
Short-term crocidolite inhalation studies in mice: Validation of an inhalation chamber
1996, Toxicology
A nose-only inhalation chamber is described: this chamber being computer automated has been particularly designed for mice on which it was validated using a crocidolite aerosol at a nominal concentration of 13.6 mg/m³, 6 h/day during 5 days. A month later the mice showed typical inflammatory bronchoalveolar liquids with many polynucleated or activated macrophages and asbestos bodies. The burden of crocidolite fibers ranged from 345 000 to 1 300000 fibers per mg of dried lung. This study demonstrates that during the month that followed a short-term mice exposure to crocidolite fibers, the inflammatory response was still persistent. These toxicological endpoints validate the nose-only inhalation chamber to be useful for common or transgenic mice.
Asbestos-related mesothelioma: Evidence for a threshold in animals and humans
1991, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
A threshold for mesothelioma for the major asbestos fiber types becomes not only plausible but also very likely in view of the existence of a distinct background incidence of spontaneously occurring and non-asbestos-related mesotheliomas; the high occupational doses associated with the appearance of mesotheliomas in humans; and the large number of “tumorigenic” fibers required to produce significant numbers of mesotheliomas in animals. Even when the duration of exposure associated with the appearance of mesotheliomas in humans has been brief, the exposure itself has been intense. The review of the relevant animal and human literature cited herein supports the concept of mesothelioma threshold.
Effect of exposure route on potency of carcinogens
1991, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
To compare the effectiveness of different exposure routes for the induction of cancer in experimental animals, the estimated dose associated with a 25% additional risk of cancer (RRD₂₅) was calculated using a group of carcinogenic agents for which both inhalation and oral ingestion cancer bioassays were available. Comparisons were made of 14 agents in rats and 9 in mice. Seven of the nine compared in mice were also compared in rats. Among rats, 8 of 14 agents were more effective via the oral route, while 7 of 9 were more effective via the oral route in mice. The variation in RRD₂₅ values with route, however, was less than 10-fold for all the agents tested in mice and for 11 of 14 tested in rats. An overall difference in potency with route could not be detected statistically. In rats, differences in potency greater than 10-fold were found for asbestos, vinyl chloride, and hydrazine. In the case of asbestos, the agent was in the form of relatively insoluble particulate matter. The greater potency via inhalation is likely due to longer residence time of the particles in the deep lung than in the gut, allowing for a greater degree of particle dissolution with an accompanying increase in bioavailability. Vinyl chloride was generally tested by inhalation at doses high enough to saturate activation pathways, resulting in underestimates of low-dose potency. Many of the smaller potency differences with route, as well as those for hydrazine, were considered likely to be the result of variability in the design and/or quality of studies. It was concluded that, if the design and conduct of the experiments were adequate, if agents in the form of relatively insoluble particulate matter are eliminated, and if corrections are made to account for incomplete activation, then large errors during route extrapolation are unlikely to occur.
Asbestos: Toxicology and risk assessment for the general population in The Netherlands
1989, Food and Chemical Toxicology
Within the scope of the preparation of Integrated Criteria Documents for priority compounds in The Netherlands, the possible health effects of oral and inhalatory exposure to asbestos for the general population were evaluated. It was concluded from the results of experiments in animals that exposure to asbestos by the oral route is not carcinogenic and is not expected to present a health risk to the general population. Inhaled asbestos, however, is distinctly carcinogenic to man, giving rise to lung tumours, and mesotheliomas of the pleura and peritoneum. Chrysotile asbestos appears to be less potent in inducing mesotheliomas than the amphiboles, but all types of asbestos appear to have a similar potency for inducing lung cancer. The risk of mesothelioma is not expected to be influenced by smoking, whereas the risk of lung cancer is expected to be ten times higher in smokers than in non-smokers exposed to the same asbestos concentrations. Risk-assessment models for the inhalatory route, for the general population, are based on linear non-threshold extrapolation of occupational exposure to much lower environmental concentrations. These models give only a rough approximation of the risk of environmental exposure to asbestos. In accordance with the Air Quality Guidelines of the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 1987), it was estimated that an extra risk of lung cancer of one in 10⁶ (in the general population, with 30% smokers) may be presented by lifetime exposure to asbestos fibres longer than 5 μm, measured by electron microscopy, at concentrations of 100–1000/m³. It was further estimated that an extra risk of mesothelioma of one in 10⁶ may be presented by lifetime exposure to 10–100 amphibole fibres/m³ or to a range of 100–1000 chrysotile fibres/m³ (fibres longer than 5 μm). From the current asbestos concentrations, the risk of mesothelioma for the general population in The Netherlands appears to be negligible; the extra risk of lung cancer is expected to be higher than 1 in 10⁶ near asbestos sources, whereas it appears to be negligible in background areas and in most large cities and industrial areas. However, it must be borne in mind that the validity of the risk figures given is difficult to judge.
Experimental respiratory carcinogenesis in small laboratory animals
1984, Environmental Research

View all citing articles on Scopus

^☆: Supported by Grant No. 5-RO-1-EC 00240 from the U. S. Public Health Service.

²: Present address: School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104.

View full text

Inhalation carcinogenesis from various forms of asbestos☆

Abstract

Environ. Res.

Exp. Mol. Pathol.

Exp. Mol. Pathol.

Environ. Res.

Environ. Res.

Environ. Res.

Environ. Res.

Environ. Res.

Food and Cosmet. Toxicol.

Environ. Res.

Amer. J. Med.

Environ. Res.

Environ. Res.

Effects of silica and asbestos on cells in culture

Asbestos hazard from protective clothing

Ann. Occup. Hyg.

Fibrous silicates in animal experiments and cell culture-Morphological cell and tissue reactions according to different physical chemical influences

Effects of chrysotile and acid-treated chrysotile on macrophage cultures

Brit. J. Ind. Med.

Combined effects of asbestos exposure and smoking on mortality from lung cancer in factory workers

Lancet

Cytotoxic effects of some mineral dusts on Syrian hamster peritoneal macrophages

J. Exp. Med.

The development of glass-fibre bodies in the lungs of guinea pigs

J. Pathol.

Cytodynamic reactivity of the mesothelium-pleural reaction to chrysotile asbestos

Arch. Environ. Health

Silicate-induced neoplasms

Progr. Exp. Tumor Research

Contaminating organic material in asbestos

Brit. J. Cancer

Electromotive phenomenon in metal and mineral particulate exposures: relevance to exposure to asbestos and occurrence of cancer

Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.

Exposure to metals in the manufacture of asbestos textile products

Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.

Asbestos fibers in beverages and drinking water

Nature (London)

Collagen biosynthesis in rat lungs during exposure to asbestos

Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.

The role of trace metals in asbestos carcinogenesis: asbestos cancers

Cancer Research

Tumori Sperimentali da Amianto di Crisotilo, Crocidolite, e Amosite in Ratto

Med. Lavoro

Immunoelectrophoretic pattern changes in asbestosis

Ann. Occup. Hyg.

The effect of pulmonary macrophage suppression in developing asbestosis

Asbestosis and neoplastic disorders of the hematopoietic system

Amer. J. Clin. Pathol.

Asbestosis following brief exposure in cigarette filter manufacture

Respiration

A histochemical study of the asbestos body coating

Brit. J. Ind. Med.

Asbestos release from battery boxes

Ann. Occup. Hyg.

Experimental asbestosis

Arch. Environ. Health

Experimental asbestosis-The development of lung cancer in rats with pulmonary deposits of chrysotile dust

Arch. Environ. Health

Pulmonary ferruginous bodies in city dwellers: a study of their central fiber

Arch. Environ. Health

Fibrous dust particles and ferruginous bodies

Arch. Environ. Health

Occurrence of oils containing 3,4-benzpyrene and related substances in asbestos

Nature (London)