Researchers Use Marine Bacteria to Reduce Asbestos Toxicity

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science have found that bacteria from extreme marine environments may potentially detoxify asbestos. The process involves bioremediation, which is a branch of biotechnology that uses living organisms such as bacteria to remove contaminants or toxins from the environment.  The study found that marine microbes are a better option for asbestos bioremediation than soil bacteria or fungi that have been tested in the past. Researchers decided to try the microbes because they use inorganic compounds and can interact with several minerals in their natural environments. Two specific bacterial species are at the center of the team’s research: Deferrisoma palaeochoriense and Thermovibrio ammonificans. The idea is to use both types of bacteria to counteract the iron content and fibrous structure of asbestos, which is what makes it so toxic and dangerous to inhale. Asbestos fibers can lodge in the body and cause inflammation, eventually leading to cancers such as mesothelioma and other serious health issues. Bacteria Lessons Toxicity At the beginning of the study, researchers incubated the microbes for seven days at 140 or 167 degrees Fahrenheit, which are the microbes’ preferred temperatures. They were heated in small bottles that also contained asbestos. During this time samples were taken to keep track of any cell growth or to find changes in chemical composition or ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos (general) Asbestos Exposure Source Type: news