Asbestos Fibers Detected In The Strangest Places
- Date: 2010-06-28 - Word Count: 604
Share This!
Disease development caused by asbestos exposure is well known and documented. One thing that is less known is how ubiquitous asbestos really is. One interesting study is called, "Asbestos fibers in beverages, drinking water, and tissues: Their passage through the intestinal wall and movement through the body" by Cunningham, HM - Pontefract, RD - Journal of the association of official analytical chemists, Volume 56, No 4, P 976-981, July 1973. Here is an excerpt: "Methods were developed using an electron microscope to isolate and count asbestos fibers in liquids and tissues, fibers were detected in beer, sherry, port, vermouth, soft drinks, and city drinking water at levels generally raning from 1 to 11 million per liter. River water was higher in asbestos fibers than water passed through a city filtration system, and melted snow was considerably higher than river water. Asbestos fibers were also detected in parenteral solutions. Distribution studies on asbestos fibers administered to rats were performed with the electron micrsocoe and were supplemented with studies using both tritiated and neutrol activiated asbestos. Crysotile fibers were injected into the stomachs of rats and 2-4 days later fibers were isolated from the blood, spleen, liver, kidney, omentum, muscle, lung, and brain. Highest levels of orally administered fibers were found in the omentum; intravenously injected fibers resulted in highest levels in the liver and the lung."
Another interesting study is called, "The Role of Trace Metals in Chemical Carcinogenesis: Asbestos Cancers" by J. R. Dixon, D. B. Lowe, D. E. Richards, L. J. Cralley, and H. E. Stokinger - Cancer Res April 1970 30; 1068. Here is an excerpt: "Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that, in the induction of asbestos cancer, trace metals play an active role; asbestos, a passive role as a metal carrier; and benzpyrene (BP) (or related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) derived from the environment, a critical mediating role. In this hypothesis, the major determinant for carcinogenesis is the residence time of the unmetabolized BP in the lung. With unmetabolized BP as the carcinogen, any action (e.g., trace-metal inactivation) that slows metabolism increases residence time and, consequently, the carcinogenic risk.
By an in vitro procedure that utilized the microsomal fraction of homogenates of rat lungs to which a series of increasing concentrations of metals had been added, we found that metals in trace quantities can stimulate or inhibit the activity of BP hydroxylase. Activation or inhibition of this activity occurred, depending on the relative concentration of the metal added to the microsomal fraction.
All metals did not show the same activity pattern. Copper (Cu2+), magnesium (Mg2+), iron (Fe2+), zinc (Zn2+), nickel (Ni2+), and cobalt (Co2+) stimulated the BP hydroxylase enzyme significantly at low concentrations, as well as inhibiting the enzyme at higher concentration. Beryllium (Be2+), iron (Fe3+), and chromium (Cr6+) significantly inhibited the enzyme. No effect on the BP hydroxylase enzyme was demonstrable with arsenic (As3+), selenium (Se4+), and chromium (Cr3+). When the trace metals were extracted from chrysotile asbestos, and they were added to enzyme reaction mixtures, the enzyme activity was inhibited by approximately 73%. This inhibition of BP hydroxylase by the trace metals contained in chrysotile suggests that chrysotile has the potential of interfering with the detoxication of benzpyrene and thereby could contribute to carcinogenesis.
Further support is given the hypothesis by the independent finding of Selikoff that lung cancer occurs 3 times more frequently in asbestos workers who smoke; the decrease in lung BP hydroxylase, as well as copper, magnesium, and zinc with age; and the finding that patients with lung cancer had minimal activity levels of BP hydroxylase."
If you found any of these articles please read them in their entirety.
Another interesting study is called, "The Role of Trace Metals in Chemical Carcinogenesis: Asbestos Cancers" by J. R. Dixon, D. B. Lowe, D. E. Richards, L. J. Cralley, and H. E. Stokinger - Cancer Res April 1970 30; 1068. Here is an excerpt: "Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that, in the induction of asbestos cancer, trace metals play an active role; asbestos, a passive role as a metal carrier; and benzpyrene (BP) (or related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) derived from the environment, a critical mediating role. In this hypothesis, the major determinant for carcinogenesis is the residence time of the unmetabolized BP in the lung. With unmetabolized BP as the carcinogen, any action (e.g., trace-metal inactivation) that slows metabolism increases residence time and, consequently, the carcinogenic risk.
By an in vitro procedure that utilized the microsomal fraction of homogenates of rat lungs to which a series of increasing concentrations of metals had been added, we found that metals in trace quantities can stimulate or inhibit the activity of BP hydroxylase. Activation or inhibition of this activity occurred, depending on the relative concentration of the metal added to the microsomal fraction.
All metals did not show the same activity pattern. Copper (Cu2+), magnesium (Mg2+), iron (Fe2+), zinc (Zn2+), nickel (Ni2+), and cobalt (Co2+) stimulated the BP hydroxylase enzyme significantly at low concentrations, as well as inhibiting the enzyme at higher concentration. Beryllium (Be2+), iron (Fe3+), and chromium (Cr6+) significantly inhibited the enzyme. No effect on the BP hydroxylase enzyme was demonstrable with arsenic (As3+), selenium (Se4+), and chromium (Cr3+). When the trace metals were extracted from chrysotile asbestos, and they were added to enzyme reaction mixtures, the enzyme activity was inhibited by approximately 73%. This inhibition of BP hydroxylase by the trace metals contained in chrysotile suggests that chrysotile has the potential of interfering with the detoxication of benzpyrene and thereby could contribute to carcinogenesis.
Further support is given the hypothesis by the independent finding of Selikoff that lung cancer occurs 3 times more frequently in asbestos workers who smoke; the decrease in lung BP hydroxylase, as well as copper, magnesium, and zinc with age; and the finding that patients with lung cancer had minimal activity levels of BP hydroxylase."
If you found any of these articles please read them in their entirety.
Related Tags: lung cancer, mesothelioma, litigation, law firm, mesothelioma lawyer, asbestos exposure, mesothelioma disease, meso attorney, asbestos workers
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Importance Of Asbestos Awareness Training
You may have never heard of asbestos awareness training, but it can save lives. It provides homeowne - Make Yourself Informed About The Mesothelioma Stages
Combating the mesothelioma disease is really difficult a task that requires a large amount of emotio - Factors Affecting Lung Cancer Survival Rate
Lung cancer survival rates are based on several factors, including the severity of the disease, how - Lung Tumors Cancer And Mesothelioma Among Asbestos Workers
Most people that are diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. One - Cancer Incidence Among Workers Resulting From Exposure To Asbestos Dust And Fibers
Some occupations are considered more dangerous when it comes to asbestos exposure. For example, peop - Asbestos Industry Regulation And Mortality Rates Among Workers
Most people are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, often due to lack of proper safety procedures - Asbestos Breaks And Fragments Can Cause Mesothelioma Disease
Exposure to hazardous asbestos material can lead to some deadly diseases. When asbestos fibers are b - Toxic Effects Of Asbestos Exposure And Disease Causation
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. One of the main risk fact - Mesothelioma And Occupational Cancers In Retired Workers
The overwhelming majority of asbestos exposure comes from the workplace. Exposure to hazardous asbes - The Deleterious Effects Of Asbestos Inhalation And Ingestion
The inhalation of asbestos fibers can be deadly depending upon the level and duration of exposure. O
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Mesothelioma Specialists
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos. Choosing a d - Top Asbestos Attorneys
Asbestos is a mineral made of tough, supple, and flexible fiber. Neither chemicals nor heat have any - Asbestos Lawyers And Cancer Laws
Asbestos is believed to be responsible for many diseases including the lung fibrosis disease, which - Mesothelioma - Gain The Cancer Facts To Become Aware Of
DiagnosisConfirming if Mesothelioma is present is done through a biopsy, performed by an oncologist - Are You At Risk Of Developing Lung Cancer?
It is estimated that a non-smoker's lifetime risk of lung cancer is 1 in 100 while a smoker's risk i - Asbestos - Related Diseases
Asbestos is a family of crystalline hydrated silicates that form fibers. Based on epidemiologic stud - Mesothelioma Lawyers Info
Mesothelium is composed of two layered cells and develops into a layer of cells that covers and prot - Asbestos Encasement
The dangers of asbestos have been known for a very long time and even the companies that made billio - Asbestos - Dangers and Diseases
Asbestos has been used for centuries and is not, as some think, a recent product. At one time items - Detecting Early Cell Injury Resulting From Asbestos Exposure
Determining when cell injury occurs as a result of asbestos exposure has been the subject of a myria