Preliminary results of the spectroscopic and structural characterization of mesothelioma inducing crocidolite fibers injected in mice

To investigate the structure and microstructure changes of crocidolite asbestos incorporated in biological tissues, fibers of this mineral phase were injected in mice peritoneum. Histological sections of different organs of mice developing mesothelioma after crocidolite inoculation were prepared and analysed by optical microscopy. The tumours developed within the peritoneal cavity, wrapped around the surrounding organs. Many fibres were observed in the fibrotic areas of the peritoneum lining pancreas and spleen. The raw fibers before inoculation and those embedded in mice tissues were characterized using Micro-Raman spectroscopy and in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction at ESRF- Grenoble. Preliminary results indicate shifts of some bands on the Raman spectra and enlargement of the X-Ray diffraction peaks of the fibers localized in the mice tissue sections. A preliminary structural picture of the fibers incorporated in mice tissues suggests inter-crystalline migration of the iron and sodium ions.