Response of alveolar macrophages to in vitro exposure to freshly fractured versus aged silica dust: The ability of prosil 28, an organosilane material, to coat silica and reduce its biological reactivity

Abstract

We have reported previously that crushing or grinding crystalline silica results in the generation of silica‐based radicals on the particulate surface and that these radicals can generate hydroxyl radicals in aqueous solution. Data in the present study indicate that freshly ground silica is more cytotoxic and is a more potent activator of alveolar macrophages than comparably sized aged silica. That is, compared to aged silica, fresh silica is 4.2‐fold more potent in decreasing the membrane integrity of macrophages; is 50% more potent in activating hydrogen peroxide secretion by macrophages; and is 4.6‐fold more potent in stimulating cellular chemiluminescence. Prosil 28, an organosilane material, is an effective coating agent for fresh silica. It decreases the cytotoxicity of fresh silica by as much as 78% and decreases the ability of fresh silica to induce chemiluminescence from alveolar macrophages by 58%. The data suggest that surface radicals associated with freshly cleaved dust may be an important factor in the induction of pulmonary disease. Furthermore, treating dust with coating agents may substantially decrease toxicity.