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Łuniewski S, Rogowska W, Łozowicka B, Iwaniuk P. Plants, Microorganisms and Their Metabolites in Supporting Asbestos Detoxification-A Biological Perspective in Asbestos Treatment. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:1644. [PMID: 38612157 PMCID: PMC11012542 DOI: 10.3390/ma17071644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Many countries banned asbestos due to its toxicity, but considering its colossal use, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, disposing of waste containing asbestos is the current problem. Today, many asbestos disposal technologies are known, but they usually involve colossal investment and operating expenses, and the end- and by-products of these methods negatively impact the environment. This paper identifies a unique modern direction in detoxifying asbestos minerals, which involves using microorganisms and plants and their metabolites. The work comprehensively focuses on the interactions between asbestos and plants, bacteria and fungi, including lichens and, for the first time, yeast. Biological treatment is a prospect for in situ land reclamation and under industrial conditions, which can be a viable alternative to landfilling and an environmentally friendly substitute or supplement to thermal, mechanical, and chemical methods, often characterized by high cost intensity. Plant and microbial metabolism products are part of the green chemistry trend, a central strategic pillar of global industrial and environmental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanisław Łuniewski
- Faculty of Economics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev 2, Astana 010008, Kazakhstan; (S.Ł.); (B.Ł.)
- Faculty of Economic Sciences, The Eastern European University of Applied Sciences in Bialystok, Ciepła 40 St., 15-472 Białystok, Poland
| | - Weronika Rogowska
- Department of Environmental Engineering Technology and Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Białystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E St., 15-351 Białystok, Poland
- Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Chełmońskiego 22 St., 15-195 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Bożena Łozowicka
- Faculty of Economics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev 2, Astana 010008, Kazakhstan; (S.Ł.); (B.Ł.)
- Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Chełmońskiego 22 St., 15-195 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Piotr Iwaniuk
- Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Chełmońskiego 22 St., 15-195 Białystok, Poland;
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Walter M, Schenkeveld WD, Tomatis M, Schelch K, Peter-Vörösmarty B, Geroldinger G, Gille L, Bruzzoniti MC, Turci F, Kraemer SM, Grusch M. The Potential Contribution of Hexavalent Chromium to the Carcinogenicity of Chrysotile Asbestos. Chem Res Toxicol 2022; 35:2335-2347. [PMID: 36410050 PMCID: PMC9768810 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chrysotile asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral that has abundantly been used in industrial and consumer applications. The carcinogenicity of the fibers is partly governed by reactive Fe surface sites that catalyze the generation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (HO•) from extracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Chrysotile also contains Cr, typically in the low mass permille range. In this study, we examined the leaching of Cr from fibers at the physiological lung pH of 7.4 in the presence and absence of H2O2. Furthermore, we investigated the potential of cells from typical asbestos-burdened tissues and cancers to take up Cr leached from chrysotile in PCR expression, immunoblot, and cellular Cr uptake experiments. Finally, the contribution of Cr to fiber-mediated H2O2 decomposition and HO• generation was studied. Chromium readily dissolved from chrysotile fibers in its genotoxic and carcinogenic hexavalent redox state upon oxidation by H2O2. Lung epithelial, mesothelial, lung carcinoma, and mesothelioma cells expressed membrane-bound Cr(VI) transporters and accumulated Cr up to 10-fold relative to the Cr(VI) concentration in the spiked medium. Conversely, anion transporter inhibitors decreased cellular Cr(VI) uptake up to 45-fold. Finally, chromium associated with chrysotile neither decomposed H2O2 nor contributed to fiber-mediated HO• generation. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that Cr may leach from inhaled chrysotile in its hexavalent state and subsequently accumulate in cells of typically asbestos-burdened tissues, which could contribute to the carcinogenicity of chrysotile fibers. However, unlike Fe, Cr did not significantly contribute to the adverse radical production of chrysotile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Walter
- Department
of Environmental Geosciences, University
of Vienna, Althanstraße
14 (UZA II), 1090Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter D.C. Schenkeveld
- Department
of Environmental Geosciences, University
of Vienna, Althanstraße
14 (UZA II), 1090Vienna, Austria,
| | - Maura Tomatis
- Department
of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, L.go Paolo Braccini, 2, Grugliasco, 10095 (TO), Italy,“G.Scansetti”
Interdepartmental Center for Studies of Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, Via Pietro Giuria, 7, 10125Torino, Italy
| | - Karin Schelch
- Center
for Cancer Research, Medical University
of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, 1090Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Gerald Geroldinger
- Institute
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210Vienna, Austria
| | - Lars Gille
- Institute
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria C. Bruzzoniti
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria, 7, 10125Torino, Italy
| | - Francesco Turci
- “G.Scansetti”
Interdepartmental Center for Studies of Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, Via Pietro Giuria, 7, 10125Torino, Italy,Department
of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria, 7, 10125Torino, Italy
| | - Stephan M. Kraemer
- Department
of Environmental Geosciences, University
of Vienna, Althanstraße
14 (UZA II), 1090Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Grusch
- Center
for Cancer Research, Medical University
of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, 1090Vienna, Austria
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Walter M, Geroldinger G, Gille L, Kraemer SM, Schenkeveld WDC. Soil-pH and cement influence the weathering kinetics of chrysotile asbestos in soils and its hydroxyl radical yield. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 431:128068. [PMID: 35359096 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chrysotile asbestos is a toxic and carcinogenic mineral that has been used in a variety of industrial and consumer applications. Much of the fiber- and cement-containing asbestos waste has ended up in terrestrial environments. Chrysotile weathering in soils and the potential for natural attenuation have, however, hardly been examined yet. Here we explored how soil properties influence the dissolution rate of chrysotile, the release of the carcinogenic metals chromium and nickel, and the hydroxyl radical (HO•) generation by chrysotile fibers. Chrysotile dissolution rates in soil suspensions decreased with increasing soil-pH and were lower than reported rates in soil-free systems. Dissolved organic carbon did not markedly accelerate dissolution at circumneutral pH, whereas cement mixed with soil inhibited dissolution because of its alkalinity. The HO•-yield of incubated fibers in non-amended soils eventually decreased by 60-75%. The decline was fastest in an acidic podzol soil, yet was followed by a small rebound. Cement amendment induced the largest HO•-yield reduction (∼90%), presumably due to surface coating of the fibers. Overall, this work demonstrates that the potential for natural attenuation of chrysotile asbestos in soils critically depends on soil chemical parameters and the presence of cement in association with the fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Walter
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14 (UZA II), 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerald Geroldinger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lars Gille
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan M Kraemer
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14 (UZA II), 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Walter D C Schenkeveld
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14 (UZA II), 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Walter M, Schenkeveld WDC, Geroldinger G, Gille L, Reissner M, Kraemer SM. Identifying the reactive sites of hydrogen peroxide decomposition and hydroxyl radical formation on chrysotile asbestos surfaces. Part Fibre Toxicol 2020; 17:3. [PMID: 31959185 PMCID: PMC6971994 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-019-0333-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fibrous chrysotile has been the most commonly applied asbestos mineral in a range of technical applications. However, it is toxic and carcinogenic upon inhalation. The chemical reactivity of chrysotile fiber surfaces contributes to its adverse health effects by catalyzing the formation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (HO•) from H2O2. In this Haber-Weiss cycle, Fe on the fiber surface acts as a catalyst: Fe3+ decomposes H2O2 to reductants that reduce surface Fe3+ to Fe2+, which is back-oxidized by H2O2 (Fenton-oxidation) to yield HO•. Chrysotile contains three structural Fe species: ferrous and ferric octahedral Fe and ferric tetrahedral Fe (Fe3+tet). Also, external Fe may adsorb or precipitate onto fiber surfaces. The goal of this study was to identify the Fe species on chrysotile surfaces that catalyze H2O2 decomposition and HO• generation. Results We demonstrate that at the physiological pH 7.4 Fe3+tet on chrysotile surfaces substantially contributes to H2O2 decomposition and is the key structural Fe species catalyzing HO• generation. After depleting Fe from fiber surfaces, a remnant fiber-related H2O2 decomposition mode was identified, which may involve magnetite impurities, remnant Fe or substituted redox-active transition metals other than Fe. Fe (hydr)oxide precipitates on chrysotile surfaces also contributed to H2O2 decomposition, but were per mole Fe substantially less efficient than surface Fe3+tet. Fe added to chrysotile fibers increased HO• generation only when it became incorporated and tetrahedrally coordinated into vacancy sites in the Si layer. Conclusions Our results suggest that at the physiological pH 7.4, oxidative stress caused by chrysotile fibers largely results from radicals produced in the Haber-Weiss cycle that is catalyzed by Fe3+tet. The catalytic role of Fe3+tet in radical generation may also apply to other pathogenic silicates in which Fe3+tet is substituted, e.g. quartz, amphiboles and zeolites. However, even if these pathogenic minerals do not contain Fe, our results suggest that the mere presence of vacancy sites may pose a risk, as incorporation of external Fe into a tetrahedral coordination environment can lead to HO• generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Walter
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14 (UZA II), 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter D C Schenkeveld
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14 (UZA II), 1090, Vienna, Austria. .,Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8A, 3584, CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Gerald Geroldinger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lars Gille
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Reissner
- Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan M Kraemer
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14 (UZA II), 1090, Vienna, Austria
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Walter M, Schenkeveld WDC, Reissner M, Gille L, Kraemer SM. The Effect of pH and Biogenic Ligands on the Weathering of Chrysotile Asbestos: The Pivotal Role of Tetrahedral Fe in Dissolution Kinetics and Radical Formation. Chemistry 2019; 25:3286-3300. [PMID: 30417458 PMCID: PMC6582442 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201804319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Chrysotile asbestos is a soil pollutant in many countries. It is a carcinogenic mineral, partly due to its surface chemistry. In chrysotile, FeII and FeIII substitute Mg octahedra (Fe[6]), and FeIII substitutes Si tetrahedra (Fe[4]). Fe on fiber surfaces can generate hydroxyl radicals (HO. ) in Fenton reactions, which damage biomolecules. To better understand chrysotile weathering in soils, net Mg and Si dissolution rates over the pH range 3.0-11.5 were determined in the presence and absence of biogenic ligands. Also, HO. generation and Fe bulk speciation of pristine and weathered fibers were examined by EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Dissolution rates were increased by ligands and inversely related to pH with complete inhibition at cement pH (11.5). Surface-exposed Mg layers readily dissolved at low pH, but only after days at neutral pH. On longer timescales, the slow dissolution of Si layers became rate-determining. In the absence of ligands, Fe[6] precipitated as Fenton-inactive Fe phases, whereas Fe[4] (7 % of bulk Fe) remained redox-active throughout two-week experiments and at pH 7.5 generated 50±10 % of the HO. yield of Fe[6] at pristine fiber surfaces. Ligand-promoted dissolution of Fe[4] (and potentially Al[4]) labilized exposed Si layers. This increased Si and Mg dissolution rates and lowered HO. generation to near-background level. It is concluded that Fe[4] surface species control long-term HO. generation and dissolution rates of chrysotile at natural soil pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Walter
- Department of Environmental GeosciencesUniversity of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14 (UZA II)1090ViennaAustria
| | - Walter D. C. Schenkeveld
- Department of Environmental GeosciencesUniversity of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14 (UZA II)1090ViennaAustria
- Current address: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable DevelopmentFaculty of GeosciencesUtrecht UniversityPrincetonlaan 8A3584 CBUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Michael Reissner
- Institute of Solid State PhysicsTU WienWiedner Hauptstrasse 8–101040ViennaAustria
| | - Lars Gille
- Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine, ViennaVeterinärplatz 11210ViennaAustria
| | - Stephan M. Kraemer
- Department of Environmental GeosciencesUniversity of ViennaAlthanstrasse 14 (UZA II)1090ViennaAustria
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