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6859995 
Book/Book Chapter 
The habit of asbestiform amphiboles: Implications for the analysis of bulk samples 
Wylie, AG 
1999 
American Society Testing and Materials 
West Conshohocken, PA 
Advances in environmental measurement methods for asbestos 
1342 
53-69 
English 
WOS:000085558700005 
Evidence on the carcinogenicity of fibrous minerals supports the conclusion that amphiboles must form in an asbestiform habit in order to pose a risk to human health. Furthermore, the asbestiform habit controls many of the physical properties of asbestos. Because of the distinctive characteristics of the asbestiform habit, populations of asbestiform amphiboles can be distinguished from populations of amphibole cleavage fragments by light microscopy. Populations of asbestos fibers longer than 5 mu m are characterized by fibers that occur in bundles, are often curved, and have very high aspect ratios (mean aspect ratio > 20:1 - 100:1) and narrow widths, usually less than 0.5 mu m. It is inappropriate to apply a 3:1 aspect ratio criterion to identify amphibole asbestos. Other minerals that crystallize in a habit similar to asbestos do not necessarily pose the same risk because factors such as friability, biodurability, bioavailability and surface chemistry are important in determining carcinogenicity of mineral fibers. 
asbestos; asbestiform; amphibole; mineralogical characteristics 
Beard, ME; Rook, HL 
American Society for Testing and Materials Special Technical Publication 
9780803126169 
Symposium on Advances in Environmental Measurement Methods for Asbestos 
Boulder, CO 
July 13-17, 1997