Physical and microchemical alterations of chrysotile and amosite asbestos in the hamster lung

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398709531017· OSTI ID:5897186

Kimizuka, G; Wang, N S; Hayashi, Y

The physical and microchemical alterations of chrysotile and amosite asbestos in the hamster lung and in vitro following acid treatments were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry (XEDS). Following intratracheal instillation, the ratio of short chrysotile fibers (less than 5 ..mu..m in length) decreased initially from 38% to 13% in the hamster lung, but increased again to 56% 2 years after the instillation. The majority of these new short chrysotile fibers had diameters less than 0.05 ..mu..m. Contrary to this, short amosite fibers (less than 5 ..mu..m in length) decreased from 41% initially to 4% 2 yr after instillating into the hamster lung. The diameters of amosite fibers appeared much less altered than that of chrysotile during the same time period. After 2 yr in the hamster lung, 33% of chrysotile and 68% of amosite found were asbestos bodies. The Si/Mg ratios of chrysotile fibers with diameters less than 0.2 ..mu..m were significantly higher than those with diameters between 0.2 and 0.6 ..mu..m in all groups; this relationship was reversed in all amosite groups. The Si/Mg ratios of the instillated and acid-treated chrysotile fibers were both higher than that of the same-sized control fibers. Acid treatments of chrysotile fibers in asbestos bodies from the hamster lung further altered their Si/Mg ratio. The Si/Mg ratios of the instillated amosite fibers were lower than that of the same-sized control fibers, but the difference between them disappeared following acid treatments. The hamster lung disposed of both chrysotile and amosite fibers smaller than 5 ..mu..m efficiently.

• Research Organization: Chiba Univ., Japan
• OSTI ID: 5897186
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 21:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
HAMSTERS
INTRATRACHEAL ADMINISTRATION
LUNGS
MAGNESIUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUANTITY RATIO
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SILICON
TIME DEPENDENCE
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
BODY
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
MAMMALS
METALS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SEMIMETALS
SPECTROSCOPY
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology