Presented here are recent data on the mechanisms of action of different dusts and fibres of industrial interest. Emphasis is placed on the use of cell and organ culture and lavage cell populations obtained from man and laboratory animals to elucidate cellular and molecular events occurring after their interaction with fibrous and non-fibrous particulates including metal compounds. In four sections, the volume provides research findings in the following areas: - Cellular and Metabolic Changes Caused by Mineral Dusts - Molecular Changes and DNA Alterations Produced by Mineral Dusts - In Vivo Dust-Related Pathological Processes. Correlations Between in Vitro and in Vivo Data - Physico-Chemical Properties of Minerals in Relation to Their Biological Effects.

Inhalt

A. Cellular and Metabolic Changes Cause by Mineral Dusts.- 1. The Role of Active Oxygen Species in Uptake of Mineral Particles by Tracheobronchial Epithelial Cells.- 2. Oxygen Radical Generation by Asbestos and Its Correlation to Cytotoxicity.- 3. Fiber-Induced Hydroxyl Radical Formation and DNA Damage.- 4. Involvement of the Oxidative Stress in the Toxicity of Iron-Containing Particles on Tracheal Epithelium in Primary Culture.- 5. The Role of Iron in Asbestos-Induced Cancer.- 6. Time-lapse Video Light Microscopic and Electron Microscopic Observations of Vertebrate Epithelial Cells Exposed to Crocidolite Asbestos.- 7. The Effect of MMMF on the Kinetics of Cytokine Expression in Murine Lung Populations: Role in Fibre-induced Disease.- 8. The Second Messenger System in Diseases Caused by Mineral Dusts.- 9. Transcriptional Regulation of IL-1ß and IL-6 by TNF-? in Asbestosis Is Mediated by NF-IL6-like Motifs.- 10. Type II Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Surfactant Lipid Turnover in Silicosis.- 11. Role of Nitric Oxide Radicals in Asbestos-Induced Injury.- 12. Cytotoxicity and Cell-stimulating Activity of Ultrafine Titanium Dioxide.- 13. Carcinogenic Effects in Rats of Exposure to Different Minerals from Metallic Mine Ores, Radon and Radon Daughters.- 14. Biological Effects of a New Type of Pure Carbon (Fullerenes) in vitro.- B. Molecular Changes and DNA Alterations Produced By Mineral Dusts.- 1. Augmentation in the Differential Oxidative DNA-Damage by Asbestos in Presence of H2O2 and Organic Peroxide/Hydroperoxide.- 2. In vitro, DNA and Chromosome Damage Produced by Some Minerals and Man-Made Particles on Rat Pleural Mesothelial Cells (RPMC) - Mechanisms and Relationship with in vivo Experimental Findings.- 3. Evaluation of Proinflammatory Cytokine Expression in Alveolar Macrophages and in the Lung of Pneumoconiotic Patients.- 4. Activation of Early Cellular Responses by Asbestos: Induction of c-FOS and c-JUN Protooncogene Expression in Rat Pleural Mesothelial Cells.- 5. Molecular Alterations in Murine Mesotheliomas Induced by Crocidolite Asbestos.- 6. Long and Short Amosite Asbestos Samples: Comparison of Chromosome-damaging Effects to Cells in Culture with in vivo Pathogenicity.- 7. Induction of DNA Damage after Rats Exposure to Crocidolite Asbestos Fibres.- 8. Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (UDS) Induced in vitro by Cadmium in Tracheal Epithelial Cells of Rat and Hamster.- C. In Vivo Dust-Related Pathological Processes: Correlations Between In Vitro And In Vivo Data.- 1. Pulmonary Toxicity of Cobalt-containing Dusts.- 2. Chronic Inhalation Toxicity of Fibrous Glass in Rats.- 3. A Comparison of Alveolar Macrophage Cytotoxicity and Ability to Cause Inflammation in the Mouse Peritoneal Cavity for a Range of Different Fibre Types at Equal Fibre Number.- 4. Correlation of in vitro and in vivo Studies on the Bioeffects of Mineral Particles.- 5. Comparative Studies with Natural and Man-Made Mineral Fibres in vitro and in vivo.- 6. Comparison of Pulmonary Effects in Rats Exposed to Size-Separated Preparations of Para-Aramid or Chrysotile Asbestos Fibres after 2-week Inhalation Exposures.- 7. Investigation of the Biodurability and Carcinogenicity of Different Man-Made Mineral Fibres.- 8. Quantitative Relationship Between Emphysema and Lung Minerals in Man.- 9. Carcinogenic Asbestos Fibers in the Parietal Pleura.- 10. Pleural Lesions Induced by Mineral Dusts, Fibers and Chemicals.- 11. Comparisons of in vitro Cytotoxicity Results with in vivo Pulmonary Effects Following Inhalation Exposures to a Variety of Mineral Dusts: How Well Do They Compare?.- D. Physico-Chemical Properties Of Minerals in Relation yo Their Biological Effects.- 1. Particle-Associated Hydrocarbons and Lung Cancer; the Correlation Between Cellular Dosimetry and Tumour Distribution.- 2. Which Surface Functionalities Are Implied in Dust Toxicity.- 3. Role of Transition Metal Compounds in the Capacity of Dusts to Generate Electrophilic Species.- 4. Surface Properties of Respirable Silicate and Aluminosilicate Dusts Affecting Bioavailability.- 5. Significance of Surface Properties of Quartz and Quartz-Containing Mineral Dusts to the Pulmonary Toxicity.- 6. The Cytotoxicity of Respirable Coal Dusts.- 7. Appearance of Very Electrophilic Species Generated by Some Iron Oxides: Effect of Iron Chelators and Reducing Agents.- 8. Kinetics of Asbestos-Induced Haemolysis of Human Red Blood Cells.- 9. Oxidising Activity of Some Metallic Dusts in Relation to Oxidative Stress Mechanisms.- 10. Identification and Quantification of Fibre-Induced Lipid Peroxidation Products by GC-MSD.- 11. Effect of Chelators on the Surface Properties of Asbestos.