Chrysotile
Classification:
Chrysotile is one variety of serpentine. It is also called asbestos or white-asbestos; compare to serpentine and asbestos.
Cas:
12001-28-4
Synonyms/Trade Names:
Asbestos, Baltimonit, Serpentinasbest, White-Asbestos, Zermattit.
Chemistry/Composition:
Mg3((OH)4/Si2O5).
Structure:
Silicon is tetrahedrally surrounded by four oxygen atoms, and hexagonal rings are created by six tetrahedra. These rings are linked to layers. All apices of the tetrahedra are arranged in one direction. They share the edges of octahedra, which are bound with one triangle side to the apical oxygen atoms of the tetrahedra. Only four
of the six octahedral oxygen atoms are binding atoms, two are not bound. Magnesium atoms sur-Chrysocolla round the octahedra and form the second layer. Compared to aluminum atoms, magnesium has a larger diameter. Therefore, the cell distances of the octahedral layers are not identical with those of the tetrahedral layers. In nature, there are two
possibilities for the creation of crystals with these two differing sheets:
a) to create a waving form by alternation of the two sheets. This is performed in the antigorite structure.
b) to curve the sheets. This is performed in the chrysotile structure, containing a tetrahedral layer at the inner side. The inner diameter measures 18 nm, the external diameter 34 nm. The wall itself has a thickness of 8 nm, and is formed by ten double-sheets.
Crystallographic Constants:
5.320 9.200 14.640 90.000 93.300 90.000.
Crystal Group:
Monoclinic.
Color:
Normally white, in addition, yellowish, gray, or green varieties exist.
Optical Properties:
nx=1.532–1.549 ny=1.545–1.556.
Pleochroism:
Colorless to yellowish or greenish.
Powder Diagram:
4.54 7.28 1.53 1.50 (21–1262)
7.31 3.65 4.57 1.54 (31– 808)
7.10 2.33 3.55 2.50 (22–1162)
7.36 3.66 2.45 1.53 (25– 645).
Natural Sources:
Germany, and Russia.
Medical Importance:
Key Hazards:
Fibrogenic, carcinogenic; for details see under the heading asbestos.
Involved Organs:
Lung, pleura, upper respiratorytract, peritoneum, lymphatic system, skin, reproductive system, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and bile duct.
Exposure/Epidemiology:
Chrysotile is a well known carcinogenic substance, which is called asbestos; for further information, see under the heading asbestos.
Thresholds:
See under the heading asbestos.
Etiology/Pathophysiology:
The inhaled chrysotile fibers are deposited in the distant airways and ingested by macrophages. The damaged macrophages release chemotactic factors causing collections of monocytes, granulocytes, and proliferating fibroblasts, thus inducing a diffuse fibrosis. The chrysotile fibers are splitted into smaller needles which are more resistant to phagocytosis than amphibole fibers; for details see under the heading asbestos.
Lung Diseases:
Fibrosis, pleural effusions, pleural plaque, pleural fibrosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma.
Clinical Presentation:
The common associated symptoms are cough, dyspnea, loss of weight, chest pain, and shortness of breath during exercise.
Radiology:
Chest radiographs may not display early changes. Advanced stages present with round irregular or linear opacities, predominantly in the lower lung zones. The abnormalities should be classified under the ILO scheme into three categories according to size and profusion; for details see under the heading asbestos.
Lung Function:
According to the stage of the fibrosis, normal findings or severe restrictive disturbances can be seen.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage:
An increased number of inflammatory cells and an altered T4/T8 ratio may be noted.
Pathology:
Gross:
Both lungs display an increased consistency and progression into honeycombing according to the underlying stage. Pleural effusions are usually clear and yellowish, or bloody tinged in case of mesothelioma or pleural metastasis.
Histology:
The crystals can be demonstrated with polarized light and may be coated. The interalveolar septa are broadened and contain an increased number of collagen fibers, which may also be present in the pleura (basket-weave pattern). Presence of smooth muscle fibers is only detectable in advanced stages. All kinds of bronchial carcinoma
and mesothelioma are associated with exposure to asbestos; for details see under the heading asbestos.
Prognosis:
Usually poor due to serious sequelae and progressive fibrosis; for details see under the heading asbestos.
Additional Diseases:
Associated diseases of other organs include cancer of the larynx, gastrointestinal tract, testis, kidneys, peritoneum, bile duct, female reproductive system; for details see under the heading asbestos.
References:
search Pubmed for Asbestos
Churg A, Wright JL, De Paoli L, Wiggs B: Mineralogic correlates of fibrosis in chrysotile miners and millers. Am Rev Respir Dis 4 (1989) 819–896
Davis JM, Bolton RE, Douglas AN, Jones AD, Smith T: Effects of electrostatic charge on the pathogenicity of chrysotile asbestos. Br J Ind Med 45 (1988) 292–299
Finkelstein MM: Mortality among employees of an Ontario factory that manufactured construction materials using chrysotile asbestos and coal tar pitch. Am J Ind Med 3 (1989) 218–287
Chrysotile 108
Fisher GL, Mossman BT, McFarland AR, Hart RW: A possible mechanism of chrysotile asbestos toxicity. Drug Chem Toxicol 2 (1987) 109–131 Guillemin MP, Litzisdorf G, Buffat PA: Urinary fibres in occupational exposure to asbestos. Ann Occup Hyg 2 (1989) 219–233
Jolicoer C, Poisson D: Surface physico-chemical studies of chrysotile asbestos and related minerals. Drug Chem Toxicol 1-2 (1987) 1–47
Kambic V, Radsel Z, Gale N: Alterations in the laryngeal mucosa after exposure to asbestos. Br J Ind Med 10 (1989) 717–723
Kayser K: Analytical lung pathology. Springer, Heidelberg, New York (1992) Kimizuka G, Shinozaki K, Hayashi Y: Comparision of the pulmonary responses to chrysotile and amosite asbestos administered intratracheally. Act Pathol Jpn 42 (1992) 707-711
Lewis RJ: Carcinogenically active chemicals. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York (1991)
Liddell FD, Thomas DC, Gibbs GW, McDonald JC: Fibre exposure and mortality from pneumoconiosis, respiratory and abdominal malignancies in chrysotile production in Quebeck, 1926–1975. Ann Acad Med Singapore 13 (2 Suppl) (1984) 340–344
McDonald JC, Armstrong B, Case B, Doell D, McCaughey WT, McDonald AD: Mesothelioma and asbestos fibre type. Cancer 8 (1989) 1544–1547
Morrison DG, McLemore TL, Lawrence EC, Feuerbacher DG, Mace Jr ML, Busbee DL, Griffin AC, Marshall MV: In vitro cytotoxicity of chrysotile asbestos to human pulmonary alveolar macrophages is decreased by organosilane coating and surfactant. Cell Biol Toxocol 2 (1986) 293–309
Mossman BT, Sesko AM: In vitro assays to predict the pathogenicity of mineral fibres. Toxicology 2 (1990) 53–61
Mukherjee AK, Rjamohan HR, Dave SK, Rajan BK, Kakde Y, Rhagavendra S: An environmental survey in chrysotile asbestos milling process in India. Am J Ind Med 22 (1992) 543–551
Nadeau D, Coutur Fouquette L, Paradis D, Khorami J, Lane D, Dunnighan J: Cytotoxicity of respirable dusts from industrial minerals: comparision of two naturally occurring and two man-made silicates. Drug Chem Toxicol 10 (1987) 49–86
Raffn E, Lynge E, Juel K, Korsgard B: Incidence of cancer and mortality among employees in the asbestos cement industry in Denmark. Br J Ind Med 46 (1989) 90–96
Roney PL, Holian A: Possible mechanism of chrysotile asbestos-stimulated superoxide anion production. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 100 (1989) 132–144
Ruttner JR, Lang AB, Gut DR, Wydler MU: Morphological aspects of interactions between asbestos fibers and human mesothelial cell cytoskeleton. Exp Cell Biol 55 (1987) 285–294
Sebastien P, McDonald JC, McDonald AD, Case B, Harley R: Respiratory cancer in chrysotile textile and mining industries: exposure inferences from lung analysis. Br J Ind Med 46 (1989) 180–187
Spurny KR: On the release of asbestos fibers from weathered and corroded asbestos cement products. Environ Res 48 (1989) 100–116
Stephens M, Gibbs AR, Pooley FD, Wagner JC: Asbestos induced diffuse pleural fibrosis: pathology and mineralogy. Thorax 42 (1987) 583–588
Valerio F, Balducci D, Lazarotto A: Adsorption of proteins by chrysotile and crocidolite: role of molecular weight and charge density. Environ Res 44 (1987) 312–320
Warnock Ml, Wolery G: Asbestos bodies or fibers and the diagnosis of asbestosis. Environ Res 44 (1987) 29–44
Wylie AG, Bailey KF: The mineralogy and size of airborne chrysotile and rock fragments: ramifications of using the NIOSH 7400 method. Am Ind Hyg Ass J 53 (1992) 442–447
Cinnabar
Classification:
Mineral containing mercury.
Synonyms/Trade Names:
Corallinerz, Quecksilbererz, Zinnober.
Chemistry/Composition:
HgS.
Structure:
Identical to NaCl-structure.
Crystallographic Constants:
4.1495 4.1495 9.497 60.000 60.000 90.000.
Crystal Group:
Trigonal.
Color:
Red.
Optical Properties:
n=3.20.
Pleochroism:
Weak.
Powder Diagram:
3.361 2.865 3.165 2.074 (42–1408).
Natural Sources:
Mined in Algeria, Canada, China, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Yugoslavia, and the USA (New Almaden/California).
Medical Importance:
Key Hazards:
Acute and chronic intoxication.
Involved Organs:
Probably lung.
Exposure/Epidemiology:
Persons working with organic compounds of mercury may be endangered; for details see under the heading mercury.
Thresholds:
See under the heading mercury.
Etiology/Pathophysiology:
Inhalation of HgS induces severe pulmonary damage with fibrinous exudation and disturbance of the blood/air barrier.
Lung Diseases:
Adult respiratory syndrome; for details see under the heading mercury.
Clinical Presentation:
Symptoms can develop a few hours after exposure and include shortness of breath, dyspnea, cough, and fever.
Radiology:
Chest radiographs usually show diffuse patchy densities and signs of pneumothorax.
Lung Function:
Usually restrictive findings.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage:
Usually an increased number of inflammatory cells including a high frequency of granulocytes.
Pathology:
Gross:
The lungs are edematous, soft, and red in color.
Histology:
A marked interstitial and intra-alveolar edema can be seen in early stages; necrosis of the distant airways and desquamation of pneumocytes are later replaced by formation of hyaline membranes, invasion of macrophages, and proliferating fibroblasts. The end stage may be honeycombing.
Prognosis:
Fair, as slowly progressive fibrosis may develop in survivors of acute intoxication.
Additional Diseases:
None.
Remarks:
In New Almades, cinnabar is mined from rocks containing silica; i.e., workers are at risk for silicosis.
References:
search Pubmed for Asbestos
Hunter D: The diseases of occupations. Little, Brown and Comp, Boston (1969)
Kayser K: Analytical lung pathology. Springer, Heidelberg, New York (1992)
Mahdihassan S: Cinnabar-gold as the best alchemical drug of longevity, called Makaradhwaja in India. Am J Chin Med 13 (1985) 93–108