« Previous AbstractReproductive enhancement in buffalo: looking at urinary pheromones and hormones    Next AbstractRoles of antibodies and complement in phagocytic killing of enterococci »

Sci Total Environ

Title:		The wild rat as sentinel animal in the environmental risk assessment of asbestos pollution: a pilot study
Author(s):		Ardizzone M; Vizio C; Bozzetta E; Pezzolato M; Meistro S; Dondo A; Giorgi I; Seghesio A; Mirabelli D; Capella S; Vigliaturo R; Belluso E;
Address:		"Via Bligny 4, 15033 Casale Monferrato, AL, Italy. Electronic address: mikeardi@libero.it. Regione Bocca 16/A,15034 Cellamonte, AL, Italy. Histopathology Laboratory, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta (IZSPLVA), Torino, Italy. Animal Diagnostic Department, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta (IZSPLVA), Torino, Italy. Local Health Authority of Alessandria and Asti, Italy. Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Torino and CPO Piemonte, Torino, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates 'G. Scansetti', University of Torino, Italy. Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates 'G. Scansetti', University of Torino, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Italy. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Italy. Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates 'G. Scansetti', University of Torino, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, CNR, Unit of Torino, Italy"
Journal Title:		Sci Total Environ
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140214
Issue:
Page Number:		31 - 38
DOI:		10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.108
ISSN/ISBN:		1879-1026 (Electronic) 0048-9697 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Asbestos has been banned in many countries, including Italy. However, sources of exposure may still exist, due to asbestos in-situ or past disposal of asbestos-containing waste. In an urban area with past high environmental exposure, like Casale Monferrato, the lung fiber burden in sentinel animals may be useful to identify such sources. A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility of its determination in wild rats, a suitable sentinel species never used before for environmental lung asbestos fiber burden studies. Within the framework of pest control campaigns, 11 adult animals from 3 sites in the urban area of Casale Monferrato and 3 control rats from a different, unexposed town were captured. Further, 3 positive and 3 negative control lung samples were obtained from laboratories involved in breeding programs and conducting experimental studies on rats. Tissue fiber concentration was measured by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry. Asbestos (chrysotile and crocidolite) was identified in the lungs from rats from Casale Monferrato, but not in control rats and in negative control lung samples. Asbestos grunerite at high concentration was found in positive control lung samples. Measurement of the lung fiber burden in wild rats has proved feasible: it was possible not only to detect, but also to characterize asbestos fibers both qualitatively and quantitatively. The pilot study provides the rationale for using wild rats as sentinels of the soil contamination level in Casale Monferrato, to identify areas with the possible presence of previously unrecognized asbestos sources"
Keywords:		"Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis/statistics & numerical data Animals Animals, Wild Asbestos/analysis/*metabolism Environmental Monitoring/*methods Environmental Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism Environmental Restoration and Remediation Inhalation Exposure/an;Animals;"
Notes:		"MedlineArdizzone, Michele Vizio, Carlotta Bozzetta, Elena Pezzolato, Marzia Meistro, Serena Dondo, Alessandro Giorgi, Ilaria Seghesio, Angelo Mirabelli, Dario Capella, Silvana Vigliaturo, Ruggero Belluso, Elena eng Netherlands 2014/02/18 Sci Total Environ. 2014 May 1; 479-480:31-8. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.108. Epub 2014 Feb 14"