Carcinogenic and fibrogenic effects of zeolites: preliminary observations

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(82)90098-6· OSTI ID:5428865

Suzuki, Y

Two natural zeolite minerals, erionite, a fibrous form, and mordenite, a mixture of fibrous and granular types, were injected intraperitoneally into 45 Swiss albino male mice with a single administration of 10 or 30 mg of zeolite suspended in 1 cc of saline solution. The erionite was 0.4-24 ..mu..m in length (1 ..mu..m average, 95% shorter than 8 ..mu..m) and 0.01-2.5 ..mu..m in width (0.1 ..mu..m average, 94.4% smaller than 1 ..mu..m). The granular mordenite was 0.33-5.7 ..mu..m in the long axis and 0.27-1.67 ..mu..m in the short axis. The fibrous mordenite was 0.4-6 ..mu..m in length and 0.05-0.67 ..mu..m in width. Thirteen untreated mice and five mice treated with 10 mg chrysotile (Calidria, 90% shorter than 1 ..mu..m) were used as controls. Six of ten mice treated with 10 mg of erionite developed malignant peritoneal tumors between 8 and 22 months after the single administration. The neoplasms in four of the six animals were consistent with malignant mesothelioma. Two of four chrysotile-treated controls also developed malignant peritonel mesotheliomas between 9 and 16 months. A fibrogenic effect was noted in both the erionite- and mordenite-treated mice, the effect being more pronounced in the former. Fibrotic lesions induced by these mineral fibers commonly presented in the primary site of these induced peritioneal tumors. Findings suggest that the carcinogenic and fibrogenic effects of the fibrous erionite are similar to those of asbestos.

• Research Organization: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 5428865
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 27:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARCINOGENESIS
DISEASES
FIBROSIS
INJECTION
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
INTAKE
INTRAPERITONEAL INJECTION
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
MICE
MINERALS
NEOPLASMS
ONCOGENIC TRANSFORMATIONS
PATHOGENESIS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PERITONEUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RODENTS
SEROUS MEMBRANES
VERTEBRATES
ZEOLITES