Possible generation of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation of erythrocyte membrane by asbestos: cytotoxic mechanism of asbestos.

We studied a mechanism of hemolysis induced by asbestos particles or silicic acid. This hemolysis was instantly initiated by mixing red blood cells with asbestos particles or silicic acid, and reached a plateau within 10 min. The hemolysis was suppressed by catalase, radical quenchers, deoxygenation, or phospholipids. The degree of the hemolysis was proportional to either the amount of asbestos added into red blood cell suspension or the amount of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances formed. These findings suggest that in vitro hemolysis induced by asbestos particles (or silicic acid) is ascribed to membrane lipid peroxidation initiated by hydrogen peroxide which was generated by the interaction of the mineral particles with biological membranes.