Closing the knowledge gap on the composition of the asbestos bodies
Author:
Bardelli F.1, Giacobbe C.2, Ballirano P.3, Borelli V.4, Benedetto F. Di5, Montegrossi G.6, Bellis D.7, Pacella A.3
Affiliation:
1. Institute of Nanotechnology (CNR-Nanotec) 2. Xenocs SAS 3. La Sapienza University 4. University of Trieste 5. University of Ferrara 6. Institute of Geoscience and Earth Resources (CNR-IGG) 7. University of Torino
Abstract
Abstract
Asbestos bodies (AB) form in the lungs as a result of a biomineralization process initiated by the alveolar macrophages in the attempt to remove asbestos. During this process, organic and inorganic material deposit on the foreign fibers forming an Fe-rich coating. The AB can begin to form in weeks or months, and thus quickly become the actual interface between asbestos and the lung tissue. Therefore, revealing their composition, and, in particular, the chemical form of Fe in the AB is essential to assess their possible role in the pathogenesis of asbestos-related diseases. In this work we report the result of the first X-ray diffraction measurements performed on single AB embedded in the lung tissue samples of former workers of an asbestos plant. The combination with X-ray absorption spectroscopy data allowed to reveal that Fe is present in the AB as an admixture of two Fe-oxy(hydroxides): ferrihydrite and goethite. The presence of goethite, which can be explained in terms of the transformation of ferrihydrite (a metastable phase) due to the acidic conditions induced by the alveolar macrophages, has toxicological implications that are discussed in the paper.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
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