AN OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE OF MINERAL SOLUBILITY IN SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS

Asbestosis and silicosis are fibrotic diseases initiated by the inhala tion of silica-containing dusts, asbestos and quartz. There are variou s approaches for explaining the causes of these diseases. At present, our knowledge on the matter indicates that silicic acid dissolved from these minerals, contact between macrophages and minerals, highly reac tive and oxidative species formed on the mineral surface, and lysosoma l enzymes released upon engulfment of particulate mineral of appropria te size all contribute to various extents to the initiation of fibrosi s. Among these mineral solubility seems to have a substantial contribu tion as a causative factor. (C) 1998 Academic Press.