Micronucleus Test of Asbestos Substitutes in Chinese Hamster Lung V79-4 Cells

Abstract

Chinese hamster lung V79-4 cells are sensitive to the micronucleus inducibility of asbestos. Attapulgite (2 samples) and wollastonite (3 samples), natural mineral fibers, and potassium titanate whisker, a man-made mineral fiber, are all used as asbestos substitutes and thus were tested for there inducibility of micronucleated cells in V79-4 cells. The micronucleated cells significantly increased by 100μg/mL of one of the attapulgites, 50μg/mL or more of one of the wollastonites, and 10μg/mL or more of potassium titanate whisker. The micronucleated cells significantly increased also by 10μg/mL or more of asbestos. These results indicate that attapulgites and wollastonites may possess an ability to induce micronuclei weaker than that of asbestos and potassium titanate whisker possesses such an ability similarly to that of asbestos.