Objective To evaluate the toxicities on V79 cells of chrysotiles from four major mining areas in China.
Methods Four kinds of chrysotiles were collected from China's four major mining areas and analyzed for surface activity groups by infrared spectroscopy, and main chemical components with X-ray fluorescence diffract analyzer. V79 cells were administered with the four kinds of chrysotile dust and followed by detections of cell viability, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, glucose (GLU) concentration, as well as Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and Si contents.
Results The surface activity groups of the three kinds of chrysotiles were in substantial agreement except the Xinkang chrysotiles which showed no outer hydroxyl groups, and the main chemical components were SiO2 and MgO with varied contents. The cell viability of the Shaannan chrysotiles was the highest and the Mangya chrysotiles the lowest. The four kinds of chrysotiles had distinct differences in LDH, GLU, and Mg (P<0.05, P<0.01); Si was only showed different between the Mangya and the Akesai groups (P<0.01); no differences in Ca, Mg, Fe, Al were found in all four kinds of chrysotiles.
Conclusion Chrysotiles with different origins show different toxicities because of their different forming conditions and activity groups.