Physicochemical properties of crystalline silica dusts and their possible implication in various biological responses

The effect of grinding, heating, and etching was investigated on polymorphs of silicon dioxide exhibiting different biological responses. Diatomaceous earths were converted into cristobalite at 1000°C. Dusts obtained by grinding crystalline minerals exhibited different micromorphology and a propensity to originate surface radicals which decrease in the sequence cristobalite → quartz → coesite → stishovite. The production of surface radicals was suppressed by grinding in the presence of water. Thermal treatments selectively quenched the radicals and decreased surface hydrophilicity. Quartz treated with aluminum lactate exhibited higher surface acidity when compared with pure quartz, with a reduction in fibrogenicity. Etching by hydrofluoric acid smoothed the particles with loss of specific surface. Adsorption of water on three cristobalite dusts of different origin (ground mineral, ex-diatomite, heated quartz) indicated a loss in heated quartz (1300°C) that was relatable to the corresponding reduction in fibrogenicity.