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Stevens ME, Paustenbach DJ, Lockhart NJ, Busboom DE, Deckard BM, Brew DW. The presence of erionite in North American geologies and the estimated mesothelioma potency by region. Inhal Toxicol 2024; 36:158-173. [PMID: 38583132 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2024.2322496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral found in soils in some geographical regions. Known for its potency for causing mesothelioma in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, the erionite fiber has attracted interest in the United States due to its presence in a band of rock that extends from Mexico to Montana. There are few toxicology studies of erionite, but all show it to have unusually high chronic toxicity. Despite its high potency compared to asbestos fibers, erionite has no occupational or environmental exposure limits. This paper takes what has been learned about the chemical and physical characteristics of the various forms of asbestos (chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite) and predicts the potency of North American erionite fibers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Based on the fiber potency model in Korchevskiy et al. (2019) and the available published information on erionite, the estimated mesothelioma potency factors (the proportion of mesothelioma mortality per unit cumulative exposure (f/cc-year)) for erionites in the western United States were determined. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The model predicted potency factors ranged from 0.19 to 11.25 (average ∼3.5), depending on the region. For reference, crocidolite (the most potent commercial form of asbestos) is assigned a potency factor ∼0.5. CONCLUSION The model predicted mesothelioma potency of Turkish erionite (4.53) falls in this same range of potencies as erionite found in North America. Although it can vary by region, a reasonable ratio of average mesothelioma potency based on this model is 3,000:500:100:1 comparing North American erionite, crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile (from most potent to least potent).
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Zewdie A, Degefa GH, Donacho DO. Health risk assessment of indoor air quality, sociodemographic and kitchen characteristics on respiratory health among women responsible for cooking in urban settings of Oromia region, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067678. [PMID: 37328179 PMCID: PMC10277042 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In Ethiopia, where biomass fuel is used by the majority of the population, women who are primarily responsible for cooking are at a higher risk of having respiratory symptoms. However, there is limited information on the respiratory symptoms of exposed women. This study assessed the magnitude of respiratory disease symptoms and associated factors among women responsible for cooking in Mattu and Bedele towns, south-west Ethiopia. METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 randomly selected women in urban settings in south-west Ethiopia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a modified version of the American Thoracic Society Respiratory Questionnaire. The data were cleaned, coded and entered into EpiData V.3.1 and exported into SPSS V.22 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with respiratory symptoms at a value of p<0.05. RESULTS It is found that 34.9% of the study participants have respiratory symptoms (95% CI 30.6% to 39.4%). Unimproved floor (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.4 at 95% CI 1.42 to 4.15), presence of thick black soot in the ceiling (AOR=2.1 at 95% CI 1.2 to 3.6), using fuel wood (AOR=2.3 at 95% CI 1.1 to 4.7), using a traditional stove (AOR=3.37 at 95% CI 1.85 to 6.16), long duration of cooking (AOR=2.52 at 95% CI 1.4 to 4.5) and cooking room without a window (AOR=2.4 at 95% CI 1.5 to 3.9) were significantly associated with women's respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION More than two in six women who cook had respiratory symptoms. Floor, fuel and stove type, soot deposits in the ceiling, duration of cooking and cooking in a room without a window were the identified factors. Appropriate ventilation, improved floor and stove design and the switch to high-efficiency, low-emission fuels could help to lessen the effects of wood smoke on women's respiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asrat Zewdie
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Mattu University, Mattu, Oromia region, Ethiopia
| | - Gutama Haile Degefa
- Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Dereje Oljira Donacho
- Department of Health Informatics, College of Health Science, Mattu University, Mattu, Oromia region, Ethiopia
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Patel JP, Brook MS, Kah M, Hamilton A. Global geological occurrence and character of the carcinogenic zeolite mineral, erionite: A review. Front Chem 2022; 10:1066565. [DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1066565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As with the six regulated asbestos minerals (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite), the zeolite mineral, erionite, can exhibit a fibrous morphology. When fibrous erionite is aerosolized and inhaled, it has been linked to cases of lung cancers, such as malignant mesothelioma. Importantly, fibrous erionite appears to be more carcinogenic than the six regulated asbestos minerals. The first health issues regarding erionite exposure were reported in Cappadocia (Turkey), and more recently, occupational exposure issues have emerged in the United States. Erionite is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. Thus, identifying the geological occurrence of erionite is a prudent step in determining possible exposure pathways, but a global review of the geological occurrence of erionite is currently lacking. Here, we provide a review of the >100 global locations where erionite has been reported, including: 1) geological setting of host rocks; 2) paragenetic sequence of erionite formation, including associated zeolite minerals; 3) fiber morphological properties and erionite mineral series (i.e., Ca, K, Na); and 4) a brief overview of the techniques that have been used to identify and characterize erionite. Accordingly, erionite has been found to commonly occur within two major rock types: felsic and mafic. Within felsic rocks (in particular, tuffaceous layers within lacustrine paleoenvironments), erionite is disseminated through the layer as a cementing matrix. In contrast, within mafic (i.e., basaltic) rocks, erionite is typically found within vesicles. Nevertheless, aside from detailed studies in Italy and the United States, there is a paucity of specific information on erionite geological provenance or fiber morphology. The latter issue is a significant drawback given its impact on erionite toxicity. Future erionite studies should aim to provide more detailed information, including variables such as rock type and lithological properties, quantitative geochemistry, and fiber morphology.
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Giordani M, Mattioli M, Cangiotti M, Fattori A, Ottaviani MF, Betti M, Ballirano P, Pacella A, Di Giuseppe D, Scognamiglio V, Hanuskova M, Gualtieri AF. Characterisation of potentially toxic natural fibrous zeolites by means of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and morphological-mineralogical studies. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:133067. [PMID: 34838598 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the morphological, mineralogical, and physico-chemical features of carcinogenic erionite and other possibly hazardous zeolites, such as mesolite and thomsonite, while also investigating the interacting capability of the mineral surface at the liquid/solid interface. Extremely fibrous erionite is K+ and Ca2+-rich and shows the highest Si/Al ratio (3.38) and specific surface area (8.14 m2/g). Fibrous mesolite is Na+ and Ca2+-rich and displays both a lower Si/Al ratio (1.56) and a smaller specific surface area (1.56 m2/g). The thomsonite composition shows the lowest values of Si/Al ratio (1.23) and specific surface area (0.38 m2/g). Electron paramagnetic resonance data from selected spin probes reveal that erionite has a homogeneous site distribution and interacts well with all spin probes. The surfaces of mesolite and thomsonite are less homogeneous and closer polar sites were found through consequent interaction with the probes. The mesolite surface can also clearly interact but with a lower strength and may represent a potential health hazard for humans, though with a lower degree if compared to erionite. The thomsonite surface is not inert and interacts with the probes with a low-grade capability. We can expect small fragments of thomsonite to interact with the biological environment, though with a low-grade intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Giordani
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Michele Mattioli
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy.
| | - Michela Cangiotti
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Alberto Fattori
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | | | - Michele Betti
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Paolo Ballirano
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pacella
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Di Giuseppe
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I-41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Valentina Scognamiglio
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I-41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Miriam Hanuskova
- Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I-41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandro F Gualtieri
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I-41125, Modena, Italy
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Han J, Liu C, Liu Q, Lu S, Bi Y, Wang X, Guo M, Song C, Ji N, Lu X, Ma D, Li Z. Cu-exchanged Al-rich OFF-CHA twin-crystal zeolite for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx by NH3. Catal Today 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2020.07.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Emmett EA. Asbestos in High-Risk Communities: Public Health Implications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:1579. [PMID: 33562413 PMCID: PMC7915393 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Asbestos-related diseases (ARDs)-mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis-are well known as occupational diseases. As industrial asbestos use is eliminated, ARDs within the general community from para-occupational, environmental, and natural exposures are more prominent. ARD clusters have been studied in communities including Broni, Italy; Libby, Montana; Wittenoom, Western Australia; Karain, Turkey; Ambler, Pennsylvania; and elsewhere. Community ARDs pose specific public health issues and challenges. Community exposure results in higher proportions of mesothelioma in women and a younger age distribution than occupational exposures. Exposure amount, age at exposure, fiber type, and genetic predisposition influence ARD expression; vulnerable groups include those with social and behavioral risk, exposure to extreme events, and genetic predispositions. To address community exposure, regulations should address all carcinogenic elongated mineral fibers. Banning asbestos mining, use, and importation will not reduce risks from asbestos already in place. Residents of high-risk communities are characteristically exposed through several pathways differing among communities. Administrative responsibility for controlling environmental exposures is more diffuse than for workplaces, complicated by diverse community attitudes to risk and prevention and legal complexity. The National Mesothelioma Registries help track the identification of communities at risk. High-risk communities need enhanced services for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and social and psychological support, including for retired asbestos workers. Legal settlements could help fund community programs. A focus on prevention, public health programs, particularization to specific community needs, and participation is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Emmett
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Huang S, Taddei P, Lawrence J, Martins MAG, Li J, Koutrakis P. Trace element mass fractions in road dust as a function of distance from road. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2021; 71:137-146. [PMID: 33030417 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1834011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Road dust particles play an important role in atmospheric pollution and are associated with adverse human health effects. Traffic emissions are a major source of particles in road dust. However, there has been limited information about the relationship between distance from road and traffic-related elements levels in road dust. We investigated the relationships between proximity to the nearest major roadway and trace element mass fractions in PM10 and PM2.5 re-suspended from the road surface, based on measurements at three different distance ranges. We found that mass fractions of Ba, Cu, Zr, Zn, Cl, Co, Cr, Ca, Ti in PM10 road dust as well as Zr, Cu, Cl, Zn, Cr, Ti, Mn, Ca, Ni, and Fe in PM2.5 road dust, significantly decreased with distance from major road. Most of these elements are associated with road traffic emissions, including both tailpipe and non-tailpipe emissions. The decrease rates differed among elements due to differences in local traffic contributions. The decreases for elements which are mainly associated with non-tailpipe traffic emissions (e.g., Ba, Zr) were more dramatic. Our results indicate that traffic emissions, especially non-tailpipe emissions, contribute substantially to road dust, suggesting the need for control strategies for non-tailpipe emissions. Implications: We investigated the relationships between road proximity with trace element mass fractions in PM10 and PM2.5 re-suspended from the road surface. We observed significant decrease of traffic-related elements in PM10 and PM2.5 road dust with log distance from major road. We also found that the mass fractions for elements, which mainly come from traffic decrease more sharply compared to elements which come from both traffic and other sources. Our results indicate that traffic emissions contribute substantially to road dust, and imply that the distance to major road can be used as a proxy for ambient exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaodan Huang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pablo Taddei
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joy Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marco A G Martins
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston, MA, USA
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Andualem Z, Azene ZN, Azanaw J, Taddese AA, Dagne H. Acute respiratory symptoms and its associated factors among mothers who have under five-years-old children in northwest, Ethiopia. Environ Health Prev Med 2020; 25:20. [PMID: 32539699 PMCID: PMC7296770 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-020-00859-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Poor air quality of the household is likely to be the largest public health concern in resource-constrained countries. Exposure to household air pollution, poor working environment, and fuel type used at household level have been associated with respiratory symptoms. This study aimed to assess acute respiratory symptoms and its associated factors among mothers who have under five-years-old children in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out from February 15, 2019 to June 20, 2019. Study participants were selected using simple random sampling, and data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to test the association of explanatory and outcome variables. Variables with p < 0.05 were considered as significantly associated with the outcome variable. Results The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among mothers of under-five years-old children in this study was 46.1%. Education (vocational training compared to cannot read and write) (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 0.26 at 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08–0.82), working in dusty environment (AOR = 2.90 at 95% CI: 1.39–6.08), wood fire use (AOR = 0.37 at 95% CI: 0.16–0.85), living in mud- and wood-walled houses (AOR = 0.53 at CI: 0.32–0.89), recent house painting (AOR = 1.95 at 95% CI: 1.03–3.69), new carpet (AOR = 2.02 at 95% CI: 1.08–3.77), pesticide use (AOR = 1.71 at 95% CI: 1.03–2.84), damp stain (AOR = 2.45 at 95% CI: 1.04–5.75), spending longer time in house for 6 to 11 h (AOR = 2.59 at 95% CI: 1.53–4.37) and 11 to 15 h (AOR = 3.47 at 95% CI: 1.87–6.43), and living less than 100 m from unpaved roads/streets (AOR = 4.35 at 95% CI: 2.64–7.18) were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms among mothers of under-five years-old children. Conclusion Respiratory symptoms were common among mothers who have under five-years-old children. Air quality improvement, fuel selection, and residential planning will help to reduce respiratory symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zewudu Andualem
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Zelalem Nigussie Azene
- Department of Women's and Family Health, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Jember Azanaw
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Asefa Adimasu Taddese
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Henok Dagne
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Real-Time Observation of Fibrous Zeolites Reactivity in Contact with Simulated Lung Fluids (SLFs) Obtained by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). MINERALS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/min9020083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Inhalation of fibrous erionite particles has been linked to malignant mesothelioma. Accordingly, erionite is considered the most carcinogenic mineral. The reactivity and the nature of erionite biotoxicity has been the subject of intensive research. Despite very close chemical and structural relationships between erionite and offretite, the reactivity of offretite in lung fluids remains unknown. In this paper, the interaction of erionite and offretite surfaces with simulated lung fluids was investigated by means of in situ atomic force microscope (AFM). To simulate different environments in the lungs, artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) and Gamble’s solution were used. In ALF (4.15 < pH < 4.31) the dissolution of erionite and offretite surfaces was detected, as well as an evident removal of particles (mainly attributed to impurities) from the crystal faces. Instead, the growth of a layer of a yet unknown phase on the surface of both zeolites was observed during the interaction with Gamble’s solution (7.4 < pH < 8.48). The thickness of this layer reached a few tens of nanometers and covered all the observed areas. The understanding of the observed processes is of paramount importance, since they could be potentially involved in the mechanisms triggering the toxicological effects of erionite fibres.
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Berry D, Januch J, Woodbury L, Kent D. Detection of Erionite and Other Zeolite Fibers in Soil by the Fluidized Bed Preparation Methodology. MICROSCOPE (CARSHALTON BEECHES (SURREY)) 2019; 67:147-158. [PMID: 32704189 PMCID: PMC7376948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Erionite is a zeolite mineral that can occur as fibrous particles in soil. Inhalation exposure to erionite fibers may result in increased risk of diseases, such as mesothelioma. Low level detection of mineral fibers in soils has traditionally been accomplished using polarized light microscopy (PLM) methods to analyze bulk samples providing detection limits of around 0.25% by weight. This detection level may not be sufficiently low enough for protection of human health and is subject to large variability between laboratories. The fluidized bed asbestos segregator (FBAS) soil preparation method uses air elutriation to separate mineral fibers, such as erionite, from soil particles with higher aerodynamic diameter and deposits those mineral fibers onto filters that can be quantitatively analyzed by microscopic techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this study, performance evaluation (PE) standards of erionite in soil with nominal concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 0.0001% by weight were prepared using the FBAS soil preparation method and the resulting filters were analyzed by TEM. The analytical results of this study illustrate a linear relationship between the nominal concentration of erionite (as % by weight) in the PE standard and the concentration estimated by TEM analysis expressed as erionite structures per gram of test material (s/g). A method detection limit of 0.003% by weight was achieved, which is approximately 100 times lower than typical detection limits for soils by PLM. The FBAS soil preparation method was also used to evaluate authentic field soil samples to better estimate the concentrations of erionite in soils on a weight percent basis. This study demonstrates the FBAS preparation method, which has already been shown to reliably detect low levels of asbestos in soil, can also be used to quantify low levels of erionite in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Berry
- U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, 8LAS-TS, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80202
| | - Jed Januch
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 7411 Beach Drive East, Port Orchard, WA 98336
| | | | - Douglas Kent
- Techlaw Consultants, Inc., 1 Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 25, Denver, CO 80225
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Beaucham C, King B, Feldmann K, Harper M, Dozier A. Assessing occupational erionite and respirable crystalline silica exposure among outdoor workers in Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2018; 15:455-465. [PMID: 29580185 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1447116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral found in many parts of the world, including the western United States. Inhalational exposure to erionite fibers in some localities is associated with health effects similar to those caused by asbestos exposure, including malignant mesothelioma. Therefore, there is concern regarding occupational exposures in the western United States. Currently, there are no standard sampling and analytical methods for airborne erionite fibers, as well as no established occupational exposure limits. Due to the potential adverse health effects, characterizing and minimizing exposures is prudent. Crystalline silica also occurs naturally in areas where erionite is found, principally as the mineral quartz. Work activities involving rocks containing quartz and soils derived from those rocks can lead to exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). The typically dry and dusty environment of the western United States can increase the likelihood of exposures to aerosolized rocks and soils, but inhalation exposure is also possible in more humid conditions. In this case study, we describe several outdoor occupational environments with potential exposures to erionite and RCS. We describe our method for evaluating those exposures and demonstrate: (1) the occurrence of occupational exposures to airborne erionite and RCS, (2) that the chemical make-up of the erionite mineral can be determined, and (3) that effective dust control practices are needed to reduce employee exposures to these minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Beaucham
- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Bradley King
- b National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Denver , Colorado
| | - Karl Feldmann
- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Martin Harper
- c Zefon International, Inc. , Ocala , Florida
- d Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida
| | - Alan Dozier
- a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
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Khan RK, Strand MA. Road dust and its effect on human health: a literature review. Epidemiol Health 2018; 40:e2018013. [PMID: 29642653 PMCID: PMC5968206 DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2018013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road dust on human health. A PubMed search was used to extract references that included the words “road dust” and “health” or “fugitive dust” and “health” in the title or abstract. A total of 46 references were extracted and selected for review after the primary screening of 949 articles. The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. To determine the complex mechanism of action of various components of road dust on the human body and the results thereof, the authors recommend a further meta-analysis and extensive risk-assessment research into the health impacts of dust exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raihan K Khan
- Department of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Mark A Strand
- Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
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Prismatic to Asbestiform Offretite from Northern Italy: Occurrence, Morphology and Crystal-Chemistry of a New Potentially Hazardous Zeolite. MINERALS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/min8020069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Giordani M, Mattioli M, Ballirano P, Pacella A, Cenni M, Boscardin M, Valentini L. Geological occurrence, mineralogical characterization, and risk assessment of potentially carcinogenic erionite in Italy. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2017; 20:81-103. [PMID: 28339348 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2016.1263586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Erionite is a zeolite representing a well-known health hazard. In fact, exposure of humans to its fibers has been unequivocally associated with occurrence of malignant mesothelioma. For this reason, a multi-methodological approach, based upon field investigation, morphological characterization, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) chemical analysis, and structure refinement through X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), was applied to different samples of potentially carcinogenic erionite from Northern Italy. The studied crystals have a chemical composition ranging from erionite-Ca to erionite-Na and display variable morphologies, varying from prismatic, through acicular and fibrous, to extremely fibrous asbestiform habits. The fibrous samples were characterized by an unusual preferred partition of aluminum (Al) at tetrahedral site T1 instead of tetrahedral site T2. Further, a mismatch between the a-parameter of erionite-Ca and levyne-Ca that are intergrown in the asbestiform sample was detected. This misfit was coupled to a relevant micro-strain to maintain structure coherency at the boundary. Erionite occurs in 65% of the investigated sites, with an estimated quantity of 10 to 40 vol% of the associated minerals. The presence of this mineral is of concern for risk to human health, especially if one considers the vast number of quarries and mining-related activities that are operating in the zeolite host rocks. The discovery of fibrous and asbestiform erionite in Northern Italy suggests the need for a detailed risk assessment in all Italian areas showing the same potential hazard, with specific studies such as a quantification of the potentially respirable airborne fibers and targeted epidemiological surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Giordani
- a Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate , Università di Urbino Carlo Bo , Urbino , Italy
| | - Michele Mattioli
- a Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate , Università di Urbino Carlo Bo , Urbino , Italy
| | - Paolo Ballirano
- b Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra , Sapienza Università di Roma , Roma , Italy
- c Laboratorio Fibre e Particolato Inorganico , Sapienza Università di Roma , Roma , Italy
| | - Alessandro Pacella
- b Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra , Sapienza Università di Roma , Roma , Italy
| | - Marco Cenni
- a Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate , Università di Urbino Carlo Bo , Urbino , Italy
| | - Matteo Boscardin
- d Museo di Archeologia e Scienze Naturali "G. Zannato" , Montecchio Maggiore , VI , Italy
| | - Laura Valentini
- e Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari , Università di Urbino Carlo Bo , Urbino , Italy
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15
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Gualtieri AF, Gandolfi NB, Pollastri S, Pollok K, Langenhorst F. Where is iron in erionite? A multidisciplinary study on fibrous erionite-Na from Jersey (Nevada, USA). Sci Rep 2016; 6:37981. [PMID: 27892512 PMCID: PMC5125093 DOI: 10.1038/srep37981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrous erionite is a mineral fibre of great concern but to date mechanisms by which it induces cyto- and geno-toxic damage, and especially the role of iron associated to this zeolite species, remain poorly understood. One of the reasons is that we still don't know exactly where iron is in natural erionite. This work is focused on fibrous erionite-Na from Jersey (Nevada, USA) and attempts to draw a general model of occurrence of iron in erionite and relationship with toxicity mechanisms. It was found that iron is present as 6-fold coordinated Fe3+ not part of the zeolite structure. The heterogeneous nature of the sample was revealed as receptacle of different iron-bearing impurities (amorphous iron-rich nanoparticles, micro-particles of iron oxides/hydroxides, and flakes of nontronite). If iron is not part of the structure, its role should be considered irrelevant for erionite toxicity, and other factors like biopersistence should be invoked. An alternative perspective to the proposed model is that iron rich nano-particles and nontronite dissolve in the intracellular acidic environment, leaving a residue of iron atoms at specific surface sites anchored to the windows of the zeolite channels. These sites may be active later as low nuclearity groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro F Gualtieri
- Chemistry and Earth Sciences Department, The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, I-41125 Modena (Italy)
| | - Nicola Bursi Gandolfi
- Chemistry and Earth Sciences Department, The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, I-41125 Modena (Italy)
| | - Simone Pollastri
- Chemistry and Earth Sciences Department, The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, I-41125 Modena (Italy)
| | - Kilian Pollok
- Institut für Geowissenschaften Mineralogie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 10, D-07745 Jena (Germany)
| | - Falko Langenhorst
- Institut für Geowissenschaften Mineralogie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 10, D-07745 Jena (Germany)
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16
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Giordani M, Mattioli M, Dogan M, Dogan AU. Potential carcinogenic erionite from Lessini Mounts, NE Italy: Morphological, mineralogical and chemical characterization. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2016; 79:808-824. [PMID: 27434646 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2016.1182453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of humans to erionite fibers of suitable morphology and dimension has been unambiguously linked to the occurrence of malignant mesothelioma. For this reason, a morphological, morphometrical, mineralogical, and chemical investigation was performed on two representative samples of potential carcinogenic, fibrous erionite from Lessini Mounts, northeastern (NE) Italy, which has not apparently been examined previously. The first sample is erionite-Ca with an extremely fibrous, hair-like and flexible appearance, and growth in intimate association with levyne. The second sample is erionite-Ca with prismatic to acicular crystals and rigid behavior, enriched in K(+) and Ca(2+) extra-framework cations. Although erionite is a nominally Fe-free phase, iron (Fe) was detected in low amounts in all the analyzed crystals. In both the investigated samples, erionite is present as individual fibers of respirable size. Considering that the toxicity and carcinogenic potential of erionite is associated with its size parameters, together with its in vivo durability and high surface area, most of the investigated fibers may also be potentially carcinogenic. The presence of erionite in extensively quarried and largely employed volcanic rocks, suggesting the need for detailed health-based studies in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Giordani
- a Department of Pure and Applied Sciences , University of Urbino Carlo Bo , Urbino , Italy
| | - Michele Mattioli
- a Department of Pure and Applied Sciences , University of Urbino Carlo Bo , Urbino , Italy
| | - Meral Dogan
- b Geological Engineering Department , Hacettepe University , Beytepe , Ankara , Turkey
- c Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa , Iowa City , Iowa , USA
| | - Ahmet Umran Dogan
- c Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa , Iowa City , Iowa , USA
- d Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department , University of Iowa , Iowa City , Iowa , USA
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Ballirano P, Pacella A. Erionite-Na upon heating: dehydration dynamics and exchangeable cations mobility. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22786. [PMID: 26948139 PMCID: PMC4780034 DOI: 10.1038/srep22786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Erionite is a fibrous zeolite significantly more tumorigenic than crocidolite asbestos upon inhalation. In recent years, several papers have been published aimed at characterizing from the crystal-chemical point of view erionite fibres. As their toxicity has been ascribed to Fe acquired within the human body, studies aimed at characterizing the iron topochemistry have also been published, suggesting a possible important role played by the ionic exchange properties and cations mobility of this zeolite on developing carcinogenicity. Here we report the analysis results of the thermal behaviour of erionite-Na, which has been found to deviate significantly from that of erionite-K. This result is in contrast with the current scientific view that differences in weighted ionic potential, Si/Al ratio and size of exchangeable cations result in significantly different thermal behaviours, all those parameters being nearly identical or very similar in both species. The different mobility of the extraframework cations observed in erionite samples with dissimilar chemistry is of particular interest within the frame of the hypothesis that their biological activity could depend, apart from surface interactions, also on bulk effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Ballirano
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
- Rectorial Laboratory Fibres and Inorganic Particulate, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pacella
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
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