Document Xv5a989xOmx1JDpKZ6n92n7g

i. >r mu-t oi me dementi m tne ecntet ic periodic uble. *uch at the transi tion elements. Finally, when the ionic potential it high (> 10) the positive ion ap propriate! one or more oxygen ion, freeing the hydrogen and forming an oxyanion, which it generally tolublc this is characlerittic of the nonmetaU in the upper right comer of the periodic uble. If life began in the primitive terrestrial oceans, elements whose abundances in the aqueous phase are high should have a high representation in living material. In Fig. I, the enrichment factor for a number of ele ments--that is, the ratio of the concentra tion of the element in an organism to its concentration in the earth's crust {7)-~is plotted against ionic potential. A similar curve is seen for all major groups of orga nism*. a* we proceed up the evolutionary scale from bacteria to fungi to plants to land animals, and for the ocean (Fig. 2), A general pattern is observed for all living organisms: (i) For elements of low ionic potential values (IP < 3) the log of the enrichment factor (EF) is in the range of -I to +1 indicating small enrichment or small depletion relative to the crust, (ii) For intermediate IP values (3 < IP < 10) log EF is -3 to -4 indicating large de pletion in living organisms, (iii) For large IP values (IP > 10) log EF increases as the ionic potential increases and varies from -4 to +4. It should be noted that the ele ments mentioned by Crick and Orgel as showing anomalous distribution patterns-- (E 1 l 3 l--"-- to 1 30 - StAffAri* o *u, -* m V2? -420 "** w 2 sX Cj -380 - z tei * a* 5i. f ?Or* '*.v s 1 i1 oo 0.3 to 1.8 tOtt IONIC POTENTIAL Fig. 2. Elemental enrichment factors in seawa ter, related to the ionic potential of the elements may be taken as a due to a more exact lo cation for the origin oflife. It can be specu lated that life began tt the interface of the primitive atmosphere and the ocean, in the thin tnicroiayets at the surface of the ocean where large enrichments of the atmo spheric constituents (mainly nitrogen and carbon at that stage) may occur. Various other elements may also be concentrated in these microlayers because of the effects of surface-active materials, surface tension, and the transfer processes between the liq uid and the gaseous phase. In any event, it is evident that a chemical environment similar to the earth's ocean is sufficient to explain the eiemental abundance relation ships in living materials. A nonterrestrial - *tk ' *m' r l advantageous to the raptd development of life, is not justified. Amos Bakin Je*zy Navuot Department ofSoil and Water Science}, Hebrew University ofJerusalem, Rehovot. Israel Hatn t. S. Antonin*. Worlds In tht Utklnt (Hirper * Row. New York. I**). 2. F. H. C. Crick *o4 L, E. Org*l icana If, Ml (1973). 3. W. ft. Chappell ft. ft. Meglo, D. D. Rud/hHI*. 16W.lt, 5t)<1974>. 4. T. H. Juke*. iblS., p. SIS. i. L.EOrgeL0tt.n.$lt. 6. K. B. Kramkopt, Introduction it GtoehtMlnry (McGraw-Hill New York. 1065). 7. Oi.il oo concentration *ing tnd man vtloa of etenwaut abundance* were compiled from the fol> towin* tournee (Eartb'i emu) S. ft. T*ylor. Geoclkirn. Cosmochlm. Acta 33, {ISO (ISM). (Saw*, ter) S. P. Ritcy end G. Skirtow. Ed*. Chemical Oceanography (Aadcmie Fra*. New York, 196SX voL >. pp. 164-165. (Bicicn* end Tunp) 1. R. Porter. Bacterial Chemistry and Physiology (Wtfcy. New York, IMS), p. 365t W. S. Speetor, Ed, Handbook, of Biological Gate (Stundcn, PfcilstMphi*. 19S6X pp. IS-19; C. Lon*. Ed, Bio. ckemistt' Handbook (Soon. London, 1961X pp. 1050-I05Z. <Pi*nt*> K. D. Ctoptnan. St, 0ag. ttosiic Criteriafor Plants andSoils (Uftiv. of Otli* tomi* Pro*. Berkeley. 1966X p. 793. (Und nnlnrali) H. 3. M. Bowen, Tract Elements in Bio chemistry (Academic Prw. London, 1966), pp. I74-ZI0; A. Banin *nd i. Navrot. Common. Soil Sei. Plant Anal. X 177 (I4TJX Where available, daw for a range of concentration* were used to c*feulate a range ofenrichment factor* for a group of orgatmmt, when only the mean concentration was available, only One enrichment factor value war given. The tome potential wat calculated using cryiWl radio* value* given by L. H. Ahren* ICroehim. Cosmachim. Acta X 15} (1952)}. For ele ment* appearing in variout oeidation sute* the most abundant form was chosen. 8. A. . Oparin, in Exobiology. C. Ponnimperuw*. Ed. (North-Holland. Amsterdam. I972X P-1 i. 9. For constructive criticism of thir manuscript we extend our thank* to i. Kronfekf and f. Cohen. Mo, Ni, and Cr--also follow this general explanation, especially one that has in- t! March 1975 pattern. Specifically, Mo does not show any significant enrichment in living organ isms as compared to the earth's crust Obviously, taking each element and each group of organisms separately, we may ex Exposure to Asbestos in the Use of Consumer Spackling, pect many exceptions to the rules: still, Patching, and Taping Compounds the general pattern is strikingly similar for all thegroups of organisms investigated. Abstract. Analysis ofrepresentative samples ofspackling, patching, andjointing com According to Oparin (8), some com pounds. purchased at retail stores in the New York City area, hasshown that some con binations or biochemical reactions are tain asbestos minerals as well as other biologically active substances. Measurements sug characteristic of all contemporary orga gest that home repair work involving the use ofsuch materials may result in exposure to nisms. These are combinations of patterns dust at concentrations sufficient to produce disease. acquired by the emerging living matter in its very early stages of development, before Spackling and drywall taping com Fifteen samples of consumer spackling further specialization and differentiation pounds consist of extremely fine-grained and patching compounds were purchased took place. Thus the basic similarity ofthe white powders or premixed pastes. Piaster at hardware stores in the New York City elemental composition pattern of all of Paris is supposedly the major constitu area, four in 1972 or earlier and the re groups of living organisms (Fig. 1) in ent, but other light-colored materials in mainder in January 1974. We analyzed die dicates that the pattern was determined cluding clays, micas, quartz.- talc, and samples for mineral phases by polarized at the initial steps of the development of ground limestone, supplement or replace light microscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, life. the plaster in many formulations. Chryso- and transmission electron microscopy, It should be noted that in the range of tile is added to some products, apparently with particular attention to quantitative ionic potentials higher than 10. where the because these minute fibers act as rein determination of asbestos minerals. The major biochemical elements sulfur, car forcing agents. The presence of amphtbole spackling and taping compounds consist bon, and nitrogen are found, organisms asbestos in some products results from its mainly of particles smaller than 3 <un in have a very significant enrichment of 10 to natural occurrence in talc, carbonates, and average diameter or length (Fig. 1). Par most 10.000 relative to the ocean. This other rocks used as raw materials 0). ticles of this size are generally too small to <5 AUGUST 1975 Table I. Mineral content ofconsumer spockling and Ditching compounds and industrial drywall taping compounds. Frequency of occurrence of mineral phases weight basis. Diagnostic reflection* for each of the asbestos minerals were select ed. These reflections were step-scanned by x-ray diffraction at increments of 0.02* 21, where # is the dispersion angle, over a Mineral phase Chrysotilc Tremoiite Anthophyllite Tlc Quartz Feldspar Pyropbyliile Mie* Kaolinite Cakate Dolomite Plaster of Paris laid consumer speckling and patching compounds in 10 industrial drywall taping compounds 3 (5-10%) 1 (4-6%) 1 (10-12%) 2 9 (5-70%) 1 2 S 5 11 3 7 9(5-12%) 1 (5- 7%) 2 6(10-30%) 9 7 4 4 6 goniometric interval sufficient to define a peak-to-background ratio for the diagnos tic reflections. A digital printout of elapsed time in a fixed-count determination was used to prepare precise positions and pro files of the diagnostic reflections. The area above background, determined with a compensating polar pianimeter, was taken to be proportional to the concentration. Details of the method have been presented elsewhere (2). Samples of spackling and taping compounds were prepared, ana lyzed, and measured under the same condi tions as the dilution standards. Com parison of the results of known dilution Fig. 1 Electron photomicrograph of a cons. :n spackling product. Large numbers of chrysoti fibers and fiber bundles arc present Granul: particulates are clay, mica, and carbonate miertls. standards with the samples permitted the be individually studied by polarized light microscopy, and identification is further amounts of asbestos to be estimated with stituent in two samples and pyrophylfile i approximately 20 percent reproducibility. two. The crystal structure and physici The presence ofcertain minerals may in properties of pryrophyllite are aimos confounded because these compounds terfere with the detection or quantitation identical to those of talc; pyrophyilite ms commonly are mixtures of four or more of chrysotilc in spackling and taping com be considered the aluminum analog of taldifferent materials. The analytical use of pounds. For example, chrysotilc and Its biological activity is presently ur the optical microscope with its limited res kaolinite have similar crystal structures known. Quartz was a major constituent i olution allows large numbers of fibers to and consequently simitar x-ray diffraction seven of the samples, and it was present < go undetected. The asbestos minerals, in particular, are usually too fine-grained to identify, fn such circumstances, x-ray pow patterns (3). However, electron micros two others in lesser concentrations. On t> copy can be used to corroborate the re- basis of the x-ray intensities of several m; suits of x-ray diffraction and to directly jor quartz reflections, including those t der diffraction may be used to identify and estimate the asbestos contest of materials, 4.26, 3.34, and 1.817 A, the amount c quantify the individual crystalline phases since each mineral type has a characteristic quartz present is estimated to be greatc present in the mixtures. morphology and electron diffraction pat than 10 percent in the seven samples. Opt In this investigation the amounts of as tern. cal and transmission electron microscop bestos present in spackling compounds was The results of the analyses of 15 con have shown essentially all the quartz to1 determined by comparison with dilution sumer spackling and patching compounds of respirable size (< 5 Min). Both quar standards (2). Binary systems of chrysotilc, are given in Table 1. Three of the samples and talc can produce pulmonary fibros tremoiite, and anthopbyllite asbestos in were found to contain chrysotilc asbestos, (silicosis, talcosis) (4). One sample cor plaster of Paris {CaSO ViHjO) were pre and two others contained tremoiite and an- sisted largely of quartz whh lesser amoun pared at varying dilutions on a weight-to- thophyilite asbestos. Talc was a major con of feldspar and anthophyllite. This may it dicate that the source material for th product was an anthophyllite schist. T1 Table 2. Asbestos fiber concentrations during use of taping compounds containing asbestos miner als. Multiplication of the number of fibers per milliliter by 10* gives the number of fibers per cubic meter of air, an amount which may be inhaled during 1 hour. An unstudied proportion ofthese fibers is retained and others are exhaled. Current (interim) regulations of the OSHA prohibit concentra tions of 5 fibers per milliliter or more, longer than 5 pm, as a time-weighted average for workers. Concentrations above 2 fibers per milliliter wilt be illegal-after 1976. Current regulations set * ceil ing concentration of 10 fibers, longer than 5 jun, per milliliter ofair. combination of talc with some tremoli and quartz in another sample represents common mineral association typical commercial talc ore bodies. Both optical and electron microsco: analyses showed that the asbestos fibe Operations Pole-sanding (I to 1.5 m) Background (2-5 m), same room Backgi ound (7.5 m), adjacent room Hand-sanding (1 to 1.5 m) Background (2-5 m), same room Background (4.5 m), adjacent room Dry mixing (1 to 1.5 m) Background (3 to 6 m), same room Background (5 to 10 m), adjacent room Sweeping floor (3 to 15 m) 15 Minutes after sweeping 35 Minutes after sweeping Number ofsamples to 3 2 11 2 2 2 3 2 I 1 Peak fiber concentration (fibers per milliliter) Mean 10.0 8.6 4.8 5.3 2.3 4.3 47.2 5.8 2.6 Range 1.2iol9.3 3.5 to 19.8 0.7 to 8.8 1.3 to 16.9 2.1io ZS 1.5 to 7.1 35.4 to 59.0 0.5 to 13.1 ZIto 3.1 41.4 26.4 present in the samples ranged in lent from 0-2S to 8.0 mhi. Most were shor than 5 run in length, which is respirat size, yet they were not generally detect by optical microscopy. The possibility of asbestos exposure d ing home construction and repair is dicated by the fact that drywall constr tion workers are exposed to significconcentrations of asbestos air c lamination. Mineralogical analyses of industrial drywall taping compounds s': that nine contain chrysotilc, in conccn tions ranging from 5 to 12 percent weight) (Table J). 552 SCIENCE, VOL We (nude measurements of peak as ing had ceased. Personal air samples were fore, recommended that potentially toxic bestos air concentrations in the breathing taken after sanding was completed. The or hazardous materials be eliminated from zone of drywali construction workers, uti floors of the rooms and halls were swept consumer spackiing, taping, and wall- lizing the standard technique of the Na with a hand broom, which raised a cloud of patching compounds as soon as feasible. tional Institute for Occupational Safety dust. Fiber counts could not be made on As an interim measure, labels should be re and Health (NiOSK) for asbestos sam floor sweeping samples because the filters quired on such products stating their con pling and analysis (phase-contrast optical were too heavily laden to count. Samples tent and providing instructions for the use microscopy at x 430) (S). These air sam were taken after 15 minutes had elapsed, of appropriate respirator protection and ples were also analyzed by transmission and, in one case, 15 m away in another for safe cleanup procedures, including the electron microscopy. Air samples were room. Measurements showed that signifi disposal of waste materials. taken at various building jobs and job sites cant concentrations of asbestos remained A. N. Rom. and included such operations as hand- suspended and could pervade living quar A. M. Lange* sanding, pole-sanding, mixing of dry ters for a considerable duration of time af I. J. OELIKOFF speckle with water, and sweeping after ter sweeping had ceased. W. J. Nicholson completion of such operations. Personal In summary, our analysis of 15 repre Environmental Science) Laboratory, air samples were also taken in adjacent sentative samples of consumer spackiing. Mount Sinai School ofMedicine. City areas; such air samples, taken in the patching, and taping compounds has University ofNew York. New York 10029 breathing zones of the operators, consti shown that five contained appreciable tute measurements of their exposure to amounts of chrysotitc or other asbestos tifntim ntNein dust. Table 2 shows that airborne concentra tions of 5 fibers per milliliter of air or more, longer than 5 /im. are common dur ing the use of drywali taping compounds containing asbestos. This exceeds the inter im legal standard excursion set by the Oc cupational Safety and Health Administra tion (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor. The OSHA standard calls for an 8hour time-weighted average- The discon tinuous nature of these operations suggests that the 8-hour sampling is inappropriate in that peak exposures in the present in stance, under a range of application and cleanup operations, greatly exceed the maximum allowable excursions of 10 fi bers per milliliter fora 15-minute interval. minerals. Many contained substantial amounts of quartz, talc, and other miner als with disease potential. Optical micro scopic analysis of personal air samples Ob tained during the use of asbestos-contain ing compounds showed concentrations frequently in excess of the current oc cupational standard of 5 fibers per mil liliter, longer than 5 pm. Use of these ma terials in home repair work (for example, mixing, sanding, and cleanup) may expose the user (and other members of the house hold) to significant concentrations of as bestos. Even more important, none of the 25 in dustrial and consumer spackiing and tap ing compounds examined had warning la bels or indication that they might contain 1. M. Rots. W. L. Smith. W. Ashton. Am. MlntnL S3.151 <t9k W. A. Deer, ft. A. Howie. J. Zumin. Sock Formint Minerals (Witey, New York. 1962). vet Z. pp. 233-262; H. S. Yoder, Am.). Set.. Bowen volume < 19S2X p. 369. 2. A. N. ftoh! -ind A. M. Linger, environ. Health Ftnpeet.r9HDee.imi 3. G. w. Brindley. mX-rvy Identification and Crystal Structure* oj Clay Minerals, G. W. Brindley, Ed. (Miner*togieil Society, London. 19511, pp. 32-75. 4. For example, see M. KletafekL J. Moult A. M. Lanier. Environ. Re), 6. 132 (1973}; M, Kleinfeid, }. Mesrite. O. Kooyman. M. Ziki. A nk. Environ. Health 14.663 (I967X W. G. B. Gnham and E A. Oleaster. Med. 7>ore. 22.590(1965). 5. S. C. Bayer, T. A. Brown, R. O. Zumwtldc (Docu ment TR-S4, US. Department of Health, Educa tion, and Welfare, Public Health Service. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Qscinuti. Ohio, 1975). 6. Supported by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Center grant ES 0093 and by New York City Health Research Council leant U-2331. One of us (A.M.L.) withes to ac knowledge support under a Career Scientist Award from ure NIEHS (giant ES 44SI2). We thank K. Martin, ft. Klimenlidis. and P. Formby for technical assistance. These concentrations, determined by the toxic or hazardous materials. It is, there- 7 March 1975 NJOSH method, are only suggestive of the total asbestos exposure. Comparison of optical microscopic and electron micro scopic analyses of asbestos fiber counts of Water Wells as Possible Indicators of Tectonic Strain identical samples showed that, for every fi ber visible by light microscopy ( x400 mag Abstract, Coseismic water level changes associated with the Iiu-Hamo-oki earthquake nification), there were from 200 to almost of9 May 1974 were recorded in 59 among 95 observation wells located in the districts of 1 COO that could be seen only at electron Tokaiand Kanto. Japan. The spatial distribution ofwells in which the groundwater level microscopic magnifications of x25,000. rose orfell is rather systematic. The areas in which these wells are located closely coin The background measurements in Tabie cide with the areas ofcontraction and dilatation expected by the faulting. This strongly 2 suggest that in home repair work in suggests a possible correlation between the observed changes in groundwater level and volving sanding of spackiing compounds, the tectonic strain. The results may indicate that the water level of wells is able to monitor members of the entire household or other at least acute coseismic strain changes. occupants of a building may inhale as bestos fibers. This could occur during mix A destructive earthquake occurred on Coseismic changes in groundwater level ing, sanding, or cleaning up of debris. Dur the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, Ja caused by the earthquake were examined ing mixing of drywatl taping compounds, pan, at 08:33 hours on 9 May 1974. The in 95 observation wells (3), located 50 to spackie is gradually poured from a bag seismologies! data (/) are: epicenter, 34* 210 km from the epicenter. These wells into a bucket of water and the mixture is 34'N, 138*48'E; depth of focus, 10 km; were drilled originally for the protection of stirred until the desired consistency is at and magnitude, 6.9. The focal mechanism groundwater resources and measurement tained. Fiber counts measured during mix of the earthquake was a quadrant type of land subsidence. Most of the wells range ing were found to be from 7 to 12 times with the maximum pressure axis in a near in depth from !00 to 300 m, the shallowest greater than the current occupational ly north-south and horizontal direction. and the deepest being 35 and 2150 m deep, standard. Detectable fiber concentrations Distinct earthquake faults appeared along respectively. Groundwater level changes were found in adjacent rooms during the preexisting, dextral strike-slip faults were continuously monitored, in most mixing, and fibers were still suspended in trending in a northwest-southeast direction cases, with recorders manufactured by the the room air at least 15 minutes after mix (2). Nakaasa Sokki Co. The practical sensitiv- 15 AUGUST 1975 553