US EPA

3101454 

Technical Report 

Asbestos, fibrous minerals and acicular cleavage fragments: Nomenclature and biological properties 

Langer, AM; Rohl, AN; Wolff, MS; Selikoff, IJ 

1900 

NIOSH/00145011 

Department of Community Medicine 

English 

Asbestos (1332214) and other fibrous minerals are reviewed. Excess cancer is common among workers constantly exposed to fibrous minerals; the minerals may effect pulmonary or extrapulmonary organs. The presence of asbestos bodies, which are commonly used as an index of exposure, is found in the lung parenchyma of exposed workers as well as in the general population. A commonly used fiber in industry is chrysotile (12001295). Investigations have shown that a wide range of mineral fibers other than asbestos may also induce a neoplastic response similar to asbestos in specific target cells. A group of grunerite fibers, indistinguishable by electron microscopy from asbestos, which were observed contaminating public water supplies taken from Lake Superior, illustrates the magnitude and complexity of the asbestos problem. Issues examined include the relationship of asbestos to fibrous and non fibrous rock farming minerals, nomenclature of asbestos as related to mineral cleavage, differences in identification methodologies used by various researchers; surface activity of minerals, differences in biological activities in terms of crystal face and cleavage planes, and significance of ratio found in microscopic and submicroscopic fibers. Other properties such as diameter, length, number, fiber retention, dose, fiber translocation, and migration are being studied to separate non asbestos minerals from the asbestos category.