MOLECULAR-SPECTROSCOPY STUDY OF ASBESTOS-HEMOGLOBIN INTERACTIONS

Asbestos samples (chrysotile B and crocidolite), with and without ther mal pretreatment at 400 degrees C and 600 degrees C were treated with human hemoglobin and were investigated by Fourier transform infrared s pectrometry and wide-line nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. The work has proved the existence of asbestos-hemoglobin interactions, in which hemoglobin CO and NH groups and asbestos OH and Si-O groups hav e been involved. Asbestos interaction capacity with hemoglobin was not influenced by the thermal pretreatment of asbestos at 400 degrees C. The Si-O groups interaction capacity was diminished by the thermal pre treatment of asbestos at 600 degrees C.