In vitro toxicity of fibrous glaucophane

The health hazard represented by the exposure to asbestos may also concern other minerals with asbestos-like crystal habit. One of these potentially hazardous minerals is fibrous glaucophane. Fibrous glaucophane is a major component of blueschist rocks of California (USA) currently mined for construction purposes. Dust generated by the excavation activities might potentially expose workers and the general public. The aim of this study was to determine whether fibrous glaucophane induces in vitro toxicity effects on lung cells by assessing the biological responses of cultured human pleural mesothelial cells (Met-5A) and THP-1 derived macrophages exposed for 24 h and 48 h to glaucophane fibres. Crocidolite asbestos was tested for comparison. The experimental configuration of the in vitro tests included a cell culture without fibres (i.e., control), cell cultures treated with 50 mu g/mL (i.e., 15.6 mu g/cm(2)) of crocidolite fibres and 25-50 100 mu g/mL (i.e., 7.8 15.6-31.2 mu g/cm(2)) of glaucophane fibres. Results showed that fibrous glaucophane may induce a decrease in cell viability and an increase in extra-cellular lactate dehydrogenase release in the tested cell cultures in a concentration dependent mode. Moreover, it was found that fibrous glaucophane has a potency to cause oxidative stress. The biological reactivity of fibrous glaucophane confirms that it is a toxic agent and, although it apparently induces lower toxic effects compared to crocidolite, exposure to this fibre may be responsible for the development of lung diseases in exposed unprotected workers and population.

Automated summary

The study investigated the toxicity effects of fibrous glaucophane on lung cells, revealing that it may lead to a decrease in cell viability, an increase in extracellular lactate dehydrogenase release, and induction of oxidative stress. Although fibrous glaucophane exhibits lower toxic effects compared to crocidolite, exposure to this fiber could still potentially cause lung diseases in exposed unprotected workers and the population.