Occupational exposure to Mount Etna's basaltic dust: Assessment of mutagenic and cytotoxic effects

  • Authors:
    • Caterina Ledda
    • Salvatore Cocuzza
    • Monica Salerno
    • Paola Senia
    • Serena Matera
    • Venerando Rapisarda
    • Carla Loreto
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 24, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6380
  • Pages: 3350-3354
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Basalt and volcanic ash are natural constituents of the ground surrounding volcanic areas such as Mount Etna. The dust may be daily inhaled by the general population as well as by several types of workers, such as construction workers. In this experiment, we analyzed the potential mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of the materials used in construction industry, excavated from Mt. Etna. Ground basalt (A), volcanic ash (B), mixed basalt and cement (C) and cement (D) were studied with Ames test, for mutagenic assessment and with MMT assay for cytotoxic evaluation. The Ames test revealed that cement (sample D), showed a higher and significant mutagenicity than the samples A, B and C. MTT assay showed that samples C and D had a slightly more negative impact on cell viability than A and B. In conclusion, no particular risks seem to exist for construction industry workers, while the exploitation of cement and cement mixed with basalt seems to be a risk for workers, given the high percentage of silica and iron.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

May-2017
Volume 15 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Ledda C, Cocuzza S, Salerno M, Senia P, Matera S, Rapisarda V and Loreto C: Occupational exposure to Mount Etna's basaltic dust: Assessment of mutagenic and cytotoxic effects. Mol Med Rep 15: 3350-3354, 2017
APA
Ledda, C., Cocuzza, S., Salerno, M., Senia, P., Matera, S., Rapisarda, V., & Loreto, C. (2017). Occupational exposure to Mount Etna's basaltic dust: Assessment of mutagenic and cytotoxic effects. Molecular Medicine Reports, 15, 3350-3354. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6380
MLA
Ledda, C., Cocuzza, S., Salerno, M., Senia, P., Matera, S., Rapisarda, V., Loreto, C."Occupational exposure to Mount Etna's basaltic dust: Assessment of mutagenic and cytotoxic effects". Molecular Medicine Reports 15.5 (2017): 3350-3354.
Chicago
Ledda, C., Cocuzza, S., Salerno, M., Senia, P., Matera, S., Rapisarda, V., Loreto, C."Occupational exposure to Mount Etna's basaltic dust: Assessment of mutagenic and cytotoxic effects". Molecular Medicine Reports 15, no. 5 (2017): 3350-3354. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6380