SOME NOTES ON THE BIOPHYSICS OF SILICA AND THE ETIOLOGY OF SILICOSIS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Si is a normal constituent of plant and animal tissues. It is found in animal tissues in fairly definite amounts, the quantity differing in various organs. It is exceptionally abundant in connective tissues of pulmonary tubercular lesions and embryonic connective tissue. Si serves to strengthen connective and ectodermal tissues and helps in the production of firm scar tissues. In this capacity it enters into the cell structure, probably in the colloidal form. Where inhaled in excess, Si leads to an overproduction of fibrous tissue due to the colloidal activity of fresh silica hydrosal, and not to any poisoning of the cell protoplasm by soluble Si. Silicosis is produced much more rapidly by inhaling powders made of strongly alkaline soaps and finely ground silica than by inhaling fine quartz particles, because in the presence of the stronger alkaline medium the readily adsorbed fresh silica hydrosal is more rapidly formed. Clays, carbon and perhaps other substances retard or prevent the formation of Si hydrosal or coagulate it when formed and so retard or prevent silicosis. "Asbestosis" is due to the Si content of the asbestos and is a true silicosis. The condition is not known to be produced by substances other than Si.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: