Cytotoxicity and solubility evaluation of two types of whiskers by cell magnetometry

Yuichiro Kudo,Yoshiharu Aizawa

doi:10.1007/s12199-010-0203-9

Yuichiro Kudo, Yoshiharu Aizawa

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-010-0203-9

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Abstract

We investigated two types of whiskers, an antimony-containing tin-oxide-coated aluminum borate whisker (CABW) and an aluminum borate whisker (ABW), which are asbestos substitutes, in order to evaluate the safety of these fibers. The cytotoxicity and solubility of CABW and ABW were evaluated by cell magnetometry, LDH assay and solubility test. ABW was found to be cytotoxic by cell magnetometry and slightly less soluble than CABW. In addition, it was found that the solubility of both fibers was intermediate between that of chrysotile and rock wool, as compared to our previous test results. Regarding the LDH assay, no significant difference was found among the fibers tested. These findings suggested that CABW, the surface of which is coated with antimony-containing tin oxide, had lower cytotoxicity and slightly higher solubility than ABW. This study was only a short-term cytotoxicity and solubility study. Therefore, further safety assessment should be carried out in long-term experiments to examine the half-life of these fibers and monitor the potential development of lung carcinoma or mesothelioma after intratracheal instillation of these fibers in rats.

Highlights

Asbestos has been widely used as an industrial material because of its high fire and heat resistance and chemical stability
Objectives We investigated two types of whiskers, an antimony-containing tin-oxide-coated aluminum borate whisker (CABW) and an aluminum borate whisker (ABW), which are asbestos substitutes, in order to evaluate the safety of these fibers
These findings suggested that CABW, the surface of which is coated with antimony-containing tin oxide, had lower cytotoxicity and slightly higher solubility than ABW

Summary

Introduction

Asbestos has been widely used as an industrial material because of its high fire and heat resistance and chemical stability. In Japan, the use and manufacturing of white asbestos was prohibited in principle in 2004, and a policy to totally ban the use of asbestos by 2008 was established. Taking this trend into consideration, the development and use of asbestos substitutes in industry have been hastened. Fibers with a width of less than 0.25 lm and a length greater than 8 lm have been reported to exert especially high carcinogenicity, and fibers of small width, long length and low solubility within the human body may be carcinogenic [5,6,7]

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