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Penetration of Asbestos through the Digestive Tract of Rats

Nature volume 243, pages 352–353 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

MESOTHELIOMAS of the pleura and peritoneum1–3 have been linked with the inhalation of asbestos fibres. We have shown4 that asbestos fibres are present in drinking water, beer, wine and other beverages. Asbestos fibres can penetrate the mucosa of the stomach and intestine5 and Telischi and Rubenstone6 have found asbestos material in a gastric carcinoma. Godwin and Jagatic7, reporting on mesotheliomas of the pleura caused by asbestos, noted that asbestos particles were widely distributed in various tissues. They suggested that particles may migrate from the lung through the blood and lymphatic system to all parts of the body. In the light of these reports, we surmised that asbestos consumed orally can pass through the gut into the blood stream and accumulate in various tissues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Protection Branch, Department of National Health and Welfare, Food Research Laboratories, Ottawa

    R. D. PONTEFRACT & H. M. CUNNINGHAM

Authors
  1. R. D. PONTEFRACT
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  2. H. M. CUNNINGHAM
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PONTEFRACT, R., CUNNINGHAM, H. Penetration of Asbestos through the Digestive Tract of Rats. Nature 243, 352–353 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/243352a0

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