CAN MICROWAVE-RADIATION AT HIGH-TEMPERATURES REDUCE THE TOXICITY OF FIBROUS CROCIDOLITE ASBESTOS

Exposure of animals and humans to crocidolite asbestos fibers produces fibrosis and two types of cancers: bronchogenic carcinoma and mesothe lioma. it is therefore desirable to reduce toxicity of these fibers wi thout affecting their other characteristics. In this study, commercial crocidolite asbestos fibers were radiated with microwave radiation al different temperatures. Radiated fibers and nonradiated original fibe rs were then studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy to quantify the amount of ferric and ferrous ions present at structurally different sires in each crocidolite sample. They were also studied for their ability to i nitiate the peroxidation of linoleic acid to assess the effect of radi ation on this process. Results showed that microwave radiation reduced the total Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio. This reduction produced a concomitant decr ease in the ability of the radiated samples to peroxidize linoleic aci d.