Summaries of Relevant Research Articles



Observations on Carcinogenity of Asbestos Fibers

Marie Claude-Jaurand

 

This is a technical paper which looks at the carcinogenicity levels of various asbestos fibers.  It begins by looking at fiber shape and size, focusing mainly on chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite.  Although graphs of the results are provided, no absolute conclusion can be obtained.  The carcinogenicity of leached chrysotile was tested and the results were summarized in a graph.  Unlike the previous graph, this one showed a linear function indicating some relation between cancer and chrysotile.  The cancer being tested for was mesothelioma and the research subjects used were rats. The fiber chemistry of the leached chrysotile fibers was also studied.  In addition, cellular events and their effects on the fibers in the three previously specified minerals were. 

This paper requires readers to have a background in science and prior knowledge of scientific lab methods. 

 

 

 

Rocks, Minerals, and a Dusty World

Cornelius Klein

 

            This paper gives a detailed analysis of various types of asbestos minerals.  It begins with a basic overview of the most abundant minerals found on earth.  The paper then goes on to providing a mineralogical background and goes into detail about hazardous minerals such as amphiboles, and layer silicates.  It also provides clear pictures of the different minerals as well as figures which pictorially depict the structures of various minerals.  After providing an in depth background on minerals, the paper goes on to explain the effect of the hydrologic cycle, weathering process, volcanic activity and other environmental processes on the location and make-up of these minerals looking at chrysotile levels between Tokyo and Chichijima Island.  It then relates this mineralogical information to the human body including a study performed in Rome , Italy .   The paper ends by focusing on chrysotile in California and riebeckite and crocidolite in Western Australia .

            This paper contains some technical terms but overall it requires little to no background in science and presents the information in a clear and detailed manner.

 

 

 

Surface Chemistry, Structure, and Reactivity of Hazardous Mineral Dust

Michael F. Hochella, Jr.

 

             This paper focuses on two asbestos fibers, chrysotile and crocidolite.  It looks at various aspects of mineral surfaces such as surface compostion, surface atomic structure, surface microtopography, surface charge, and the links between mineral surfaces and their biological activities.  It provides some figures diagrams showing the details the mineral surfaces, however, these figures are highly technical as is the writing.  It goes into detail about the nature of the surfaces of the minerals and what properties make them cytotoxic, carcinogenic and/or biologically damaging.  It also looks into the dimesionality of the surface systems.

            This paper is written in technical terms, and requires the reader to have knowledge of both mineralogical terms as well as in depth knowledge of various mineral analysis lab techniques.

 

 

 

Inhaled Crocidolite Mutagenicity in Lung DNA

Bertrand Rihn et. al.

 

            This is paper is a scientific lab report analyzing the effect of crocidolite in the lungs of mice.  It begins with a basic description of the purpose of this study and then it goes on to a materials and methods section.  The materials and methods section goes into great detail regarding the procedure used in this experiment.  Among other aspects, it describes the exposure techniques, the atmosphere controls, cytologic, histologic and ultrastructural examinations, lung DNA extraction, and screening procedures.  A results section is then provided to state the actual findings of the study.  These findings are analyzed and explained in the next section.  It was found that crocidolite had some effect on the mice, but no finite results were provided.  The conclusion section states that an increase in mutant frequency of mouse lung DNA was noticed. 

            This paper is written in a standard scientific form, and requires the reader to have a background in scientific method as well as lab techniques and procedures.

 

 

 

Asbestos: Scientific Developments and Implications for Public Policy

B.T. Mossman et. al.

 

            This paper deals with the effects of asbestos on public policy.  It begins by clearly describing the various types of asbestos.  The paper then relates the different types of asbestos to diseases which may have been caused by occupational exposure.  The paper then focuses on the mechanisms of these diseases by looking at different research studies that have been performed.  It then ends by looking at the effects of asbestos exposure on public policy.  Results from a few studies relating to asbestos in the workplace as well as in schools are shown but no definite conclusion can be drawn from them.  Overall, the paper goes into detail about asbestos’ effect on humans physiological systems, while vaguely touching upon the geological aspects.

            This paper contains a moderate amount of technical terms and theory, and some background in science is needed in order to fully understand it.  

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