A review of the nonasbestos fibrous minerals, talc (14807966), man made mineral fibers, vermiculite, zeolites, fuller's earth, and wollastonite (13983170), which have been studied in relation to human exposure, was presented. The physical properties, mining, uses, and health effects due to exposure, of each of the materials were discussed. Occupational exposure standards for talc and man made mineral fibers were presented. Morbidity and mortality studies of talc miners in relation to talcoasbestosis and talcosilicosis, as well as the clinical symptoms of these diseases, were described. The symptoms of exposure to excessive amounts of cosmetic talcum powder were also discussed. Talc contaminated with asbestos (1332214) was said to be fibrogenic and tumorigenic in man. Man made mineral fibers were said to include ceramic fibers, and glass fibers such as slag wool, rock wool, and fibrous glass wool. Epidemiological surveys and animal studies were discussed which showed that man made fibers and vermiculite are not fibrogenic or tumorigenic, and that there have been no increases in respiratory mortality or morbidity due to occupational exposure. Two studies involving miners of the fibrous zeolite, erionite (12510428), have implicated this mineral in the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Fuller's earth has been implicated as a cause of an uncommon pneumoconiosis. Wollastonite has not been implicated as a cause of respiratory disease among the miners and millers of the substance. The author concludes that asbestos is the only fibrous mineral documented to be tumorigenic to humans, and that the majority of the health effects associated with nonasbestos materials are due to their contamination with asbestiform minerals.