Surface Chemistery and Quartz Hazard

Abstract

The variability of quartz hazard is related to the characteristics of particulate toxicants.Although these the same chemical composition, they exist in various forms and surface states, each one eliciting different biological responses. On the basis of data from the literature, surface chemical properties are associated to the subsequent stages reported by Donaldson and Borm(1998) in mechanistic model proposed for quartz carcinogenicity. Surface radicals and ironderived in the development of fibrosis and lung cancer. Other chemical functionalities related to cytotoxicity, however, modulate the overall pathogenicity by regulating transport and clearance. The chemical features deriving from the intrinsic characteristics of a silica dust—e.g. its origin—as well as those generated by external factory—e.g. contaminants, associated minerals—are discussed in relation to their possible role in the pathogenic mechanism. © 1998 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.