Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy of Amphibole Fibers From the Lungs of Quebec Miners

A postmortem case control study of asbestos burden in lungs of malignant mesothelioma cases

BACKGROUND

Asbestos lung content is regarded as the most reliable tool for causal attribution of malignant mesothelioma (MM) to previous asbestos exposures. However, there is a lack of studies on asbestos burden in lungs of MM patients in comparison with healthy individuals. This study aims to provide such a comparison, investigating, as well, differences in asbestos lung burden with sex and time trends.

METHODS

Asbestos lung content has been assessed on formalin-fixed lung fragments using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) on individuals deceased from MM (cases) and healthy subjects without any lung disease who died from violent causes (controls) between 2005 and 2023.

RESULTS

Asbestos and asbestos bodies (ABs) were found, respectively, in 73.7% and 43.2% of cases and in 28 and 22% of controls; in MM cases the most represented asbestos types were crocidolite and amosite, whereas in controls it was tremolite-actinolite asbestos. The concentration of both asbestos fibers and ABs was statistically significantly higher in MM cases compared to controls. The mean asbestos fibers width was also significantly higher in cases than controls. Males and females with MM showed similar asbestos and ABs concentrations, but females had higher concentrations of chrysotile, and significantly lower fibers width compared to males. Time trends show that MM lung asbestos concentrations decreased starting in 2011.

DISCUSSION

The results suggest a correlation between asbestos burden in lungs and MM risk. The different concentration of chrysotile, as well as the different width of asbestos fibers in MM males and females might reflect a sex difference in response of the lung microenvironment to inhaled asbestos. Finally, this study provides the first pathological evidence of the effect of the ban of asbestos use, demonstrating a significant decrease of asbestos lung content after 2011.

Dissolution Reaction and Surface Modification of UICC Amosite in Mimicked Gamble's Solution: A Step towards Filling the Gap between Asbestos Toxicity and Its Crystal Chemical Features

This study focuses on the dissolution process and surface characterization of amosite fibres following interaction with a mimicked Gamble's solution at a pH of 4.5 and T = 37 °C, up to 720 h. To achieve this, a multi-analytical approach was adopted, and the results were compared to those previously obtained on a sample of asbestos tremolite and UICC crocidolite, which were investigated under the same experimental conditions. Combining surface chemical data obtained by XPS with cation release quantified by ICP-OES, an incongruent behaviour of the fibre dissolution was highlighted for amosite fibres, similarly to asbestos tremolite and UICC crocidolite. In particular, a preferential release of Mg and Ca from the amphibole structure was observed, in agreement with their Madelung site energies. Notably, no Fe release from amosite fibres was detected in our experimental conditions (pH of 4.5 and atmospheric pO2), despite the occurrence of Fe(II) at the M(4) site of the amphibole structure, where cations are expected to be rapidly leached out during mineral dissolution. Moreover, the oxidation of both the Fe centres initially present on the fibre surface and those promoted from the bulk, because of the erosion of the outmost layers, was observed. Since biodurability (i.e., the resistance to dissolution) is one of the most important toxicity parameters, the knowledge of the surface alteration of asbestos possibly occurring in vivo may help to understand the mechanisms at the basis of its long-term toxicity.

Pathogenic Potential of Respirable Spodumene Cleavage Fragments following Application of Regulatory Counting Criteria for Asbestiform Fibres

Health risks from exposure to lithium-bearing spodumene cleavage fragments are unknown. While asbestiform fibres can lead to fibrosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer, controversy remains whether non-asbestiform cleavage fragments, having equivalent dimensions, elicit similar pathologic responses. The mineralogy of respirable particles from two alpha (α)-spodumene concentrate grades (chemical and technical) were characterised using semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD). Particles were measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the dimensions (length [L], diameter [D], aspect ratio [AR]) applied to regulatory counting criteria for asbestiform fibres. Application of the current World Health Organization (WHO) and National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) counting criteria, L ˃ 5 µm, D ˂ 3 µm, AR ˃ 3:1, to 10 SEM images of each grade identified 47 countable particles in the chemical and 37 in the technical concentrate test samples. Of these particles, 17 and 16 in the chemical and technical test samples, respectively, satisfied the more rigorous, previously used Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (Western Australia [WA]) criteria, L ˃ 5 µm and D ≤ 1 µm. The majority of the countable particles were consistent with α-spodumene cleavage fragments. These results suggest elongated α-spodumene particles may pose a health risk. It is recommended the precautionary principle be applied to respirable α-spodumene particles and the identification and control of dust hazards in spodumene extraction, handling and processing industries be implemented.

Nanoscale transformations of amphiboles within human alveolar epithelial cells

Amphibole asbestos is related to lung fibrosis and several types of lung tumors. The disease-triggering mechanisms still challenge our diagnostic capabilities and are still far from being fully understood. The literature focuses primarily on the role and formation of asbestos bodies in lung tissues, but there is a distinct lack of studies on amphibole particles that have been internalized by alveolar epithelial cells (AECs). These internalized particles may directly interact with the cell nucleus and the organelles, exerting a synergistic action with asbestos bodies (AB) from a different location. Here we document the near-atomic- to nano-scale transformations induced by, and taking place within, AECs of three distinct amphiboles (anthophyllite, grunerite, “amosite”) with different Fe-content and morphologic features. We show that: (i) an Fe-rich layer is formed on the internalized particles, (ii) particle grain boundaries are transformed abiotically by the internal chemical environment of AECs and/or by a biologically induced mineralization mechanism, (iii) the Fe-rich material produced on the particle surface does not contain large amounts of P, in stark contrast to extracellular ABs, and (iv) the iron in the Fe-rich layer is derived from the particle itself. Internalized particles and ABs follow two distinct formation mechanisms reaching different physicochemical end-states.

Evaluation of Deposition and Clearance of Asbestos (Detected by SEM-EDS) in Lungs of Deceased Subjects Environmentally and/or Occupationally Exposed in Broni (Pavia, Northern Italy)

Biodurability is one of the main determinants of asbestos hazardousness for human health. Very little is known about the actual persistence of asbestos in lungs and its clearance, nor about differences in this regard between the different mineralogical types of asbestos. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the amount, the dimensional characteristics and the mineralogic kinds of asbestos in lungs (measured using SEM-EDS) of a series of 72 deceased subjects who were certainly exposed to asbestos (mainly crocidolite and chrysotile) during their life. Moreover, we investigated possible correlations between the lung burden of asbestos (in general and considering each asbestos type), as well as their dimension (length, width, and l/w ratio) and the duration of exposure, the latency- in case of malignant mesothelioma (MM), the survival and the time since the end of exposure. In 62.5% of subjects, asbestos burden in lungs was lower that the threshold considered demonstrative for occupational exposure. In 29.1% of cases no asbestos was found. Chrysotile was practically not detected. The mean length of asbestos fibers and the length to width ratio were significantly related to the duration of exposure to asbestos. No other statistically significant correlations were found between the amount and dimensional characteristics of asbestos (nor with the relative amount of each asbestos type) and the other chronological variables considered. In conclusion, it was pointed out that chrysotile can be completely removed from human lungs in <8 years and, instead, amphiboles persist much more time. The present results suggest, as well, that the finding of no asbestos in lungs cannot rule out the attribution of MM to asbestos (in particular, chrysotile) inhaled in an occupational setting. This point is of crucial importance from a legal point of view.

Multistep concentration of lizardite/antigorite from chrysotile mine tailings – case of the Carey Mine site in East-Broughton (Québec)

Revalorization of mining residues is of central concerns to the mining industry and the environment. Specifically, environmental management of residual products from the exploitation of chrysotile in the Thetford Mines region is one of the government concerns in Quebec and Canada. This work uses mining wastes in a second resource generation for production of magnesium from cheap and health-friendly mineral sources; the goal being to produce chrysotile-depleted pre-concentrates for a use as precursors in the leach off extraction of magnesium. The concentration of lizardite/antigorite from chrysotile containing serpentine rock mine tailings originating from the Carey Mine site in East-Broughton (Québec) was carried out using a suite of hydrocyclone, settling/decantation and magnetic separations. Four size classes of the mining residue, namely (−3150,+1580), (−1580, +600), (−600, +300) and (−300, +150) μm, were tested with an aim to reduce the level of objectionable asbestos fibers to allow access to the safer Mg-bearing minerals contained in the mine waste sources. The asbestos fibers clean-up consisted of subjecting the sieved fractions to two hydrocyclone steps, six settling/decantation steps and two magnetic separation steps. The best results were achieved when the hydrocyclone separators led to Mg recovery of 85% (±4) for the coarsest size fraction size. Both hydrocyclone underflow streams underwent settling/decantation separations. The settling tests lasted 30 min and led to Mg recoveries of 82.5% (±1.8) of Mg in the ultimate concentrate. SEM characterizations revealed that it was possible to reduce substantially the amount of chrysotile fibers to render the coarse-sized fraction in the mining waste usable while significantly lowering the health risk of the fibers. A two-step magnetic separation was applied to the final settling/decantation underflow to remove magnetic minerals such as magnetite from the lizardite/antigorite concentrate. The final quasi-non-magnetic chrysotile-depleted lizardite/antigorite concentrate allowed sample recovery of 62.5% (±0.9) wt. of Mg. These preliminary results are intended as a first compulsory step in support of viable restoration and sustainable development scenarios for the Thetford Mines mining sites as second-breath sources for valuable magnesium.

Tremolite-actinolite fiber coatings of sub-nanometer silica-rich particles in lungs from deceased Quebec miners

Tremolite-actinolite (TA) fibers from the lungs of deceased former Quebec mine workers were found to be coated with sub-nanometer particles. Qualitative chemical analyses were performed on the particles indicating that they were composed of silicon and oxygen. The crystal lattice structure of all amphibole minerals, including the TA series, is arranged as pairs of linear chains of SiO₄ tetrahedra that are linked together to form double chains. Our observations of the TA fibers from miner's lungs, made using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope, indicated that the tetrahedral silica chains were progressively split, forming dispersed sub-nanometer particles. The non-tetrahedral sites were removed at the surface of the TA fibers, presumably by the oxidation process involved in attempted phagocytosis, which also resulted in fragmentation of the tetrahedral chains. It was found that the silicon-rich particles (SRPs) were variable in diameter, consistent with fragments formed from the splitting of the tetrahedral chains. The TA fibers from lungs displayed coatings and linear interior zones of SRP parallel to the planes of longitudinal fiber splitting. The literature on very small nanoparticles is consistent with deep penetration of SRP into cell DNA interiors, oxidative stress, and carcinogenesis.

Laryngeal Lavage: A Potential Method of Evaluation of Amphibole Fiber Exposure

OBJECTIVE

Our objective is to propose a simple procedure for evaluating potential recent heavy exposure to tremolite.

METHODS

One day after an accidental exposure to tremolite in rock dust, sputum was sampled; 3 months later a laryngeal lavage was taken. The sputum was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the lavage was examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS

The sputum was found to contain abundant tremolite while the lavage contained very thin, high aspect-ratio fibers, many in the "Stanton Fiber" range. The abundance of tremolite from the larynx suggests accumulation. The thin fibers exhibit splitting from thicker fibers that were in the lungs.

CONCLUSIONS

Laryngeal lavage may be an important index of asbestos exposure and is a less complex and more diagnostic alternative to bronchoalveolar lavage or sputum sampling.

New insights on the biomineralisation process developing in human lungs around inhaled asbestos fibres

Once penetrated into the lungs of exposed people, asbestos induces an in vivo biomineralisation process that leads to the formation of a ferruginous coating embedding the fibres. The ensemble of the fibre and the coating is referred to as asbestos body and is believed to be responsible for the high toxicological outcome of asbestos. Lung tissue of two individuals subjected to prolonged occupational exposure to crocidolite asbestos was investigated using synchrotron radiation micro-probe tools. The distribution of K and of elements heavier than Fe (Zn, Cu, As, and Ba) in the asbestos bodies was observed for the first time. Elemental quantification, also reported for the first time, confirmed that the coating is highly enriched in Fe (~20% w/w), and x-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated that Fe is in the 3+ oxidation state and that it is present in the form of ferritin or hemosiderin. Comparison of the results obtained studying the asbestos bodies upon removing the biological tissue by chemical digestion and those embedded in histological sections, allowed unambiguously distinguishing the composition of the asbestos bodies, and understanding to what extent the digestion procedure altered their chemical composition. A speculative model is proposed to explain the observed distribution of Fe.

"Rinse and trickle": a protocol for TEM preparation and investigation of inorganic fibers from biological material

The purpose of this work is to define a sample preparation protocol that allows inorganic fibers and particulate matter extracted from different biological samples to be characterized morphologically, crystallographically and chemically by transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS). The method does not damage or create artifacts through chemical attacks of the target material. A fairly rapid specimen preparation is applied with the aim of performing as few steps as possible to transfer the withdrawn inorganic matter onto the TEM grid. The biological sample is previously digested chemically by NaClO. The salt is then removed through a series of centrifugation and rinse cycles in deionized water, thus drastically reducing the digestive power of the NaClO and concentrating the fibers for TEM analysis. The concept of equivalent hydrodynamic diameter is introduced to calculate the settling velocity during the centrifugation cycles. This technique is applicable to lung tissues and can be extended to a wide range of organic materials. The procedure does not appear to cause morphological damage to the fibers or modify their chemistry or degree of crystallinity. The extrapolated data can be used in interdisciplinary studies to understand the pathological effects caused by inorganic materials.