Static electrification of airborne asbestos dust.

The static electrification of airborne asbestos (1332214) fibers was investigated. The nature of the changing process, a method for quantifying the charge, and the effects on the deposition of asbestos fibers in the lungs of rats were studied. Two types of electrostatic elutriators were used to characterize dust samples made up of amosite (12172735) and chrysotile (12001295). Data from manual and optical particle counting was compared. Wistar-rats inhaled charged or neutralized clouds of amosite and chrysotile for up to 6 weeks. Rats were killed 3, 18, 34, and 63 days post exposure. Dust samples were collected from the carding, spinning, and weaving sections of an asbestos textile manufacturing facility. Dust had a high degree of static electrification, up to 60 electrons in some cases. There was excellent agreement between the two counting methods. Static electrification enhanced deposition of asbestos in the lungs of rats; enhancement was 24 percent on day 3 and 40 percent on day 34 for amosite was observed. For chrysotile, enhancement was higher, 109 percent on day 3, 126 percent on day 18, 113 percent on day 34, and 79 percent on day 63. In the carding area the amount of electrification was similar to that for laboratory dusts with up to 60 electrons. Electrification was lower in the spinning area and still lower in the weaving section. The authors suggest that electrification plays a significant role in the relationship between dust exposure and disease.