- Author
- Clayton, J. W.
- Title
- Health Hazards of Respirable Fibers.
- Coporate
- Arizona Univ., Tuscon
- Book or Conf
- Naval Air Systems Command. Composites in Fire Workshop. Volume 2. April 2-4, 1985, Monterey, CA, 19-19/52 p., 1985
- Keywords
- asbestos
- Abstract
- The presentation documents the fact that all fibrous minerals cannot be considered inert. All provoke a response in the lung. In order to demonstrate this, we conducted animal experiments on asbestos, a fiber of high toxicity had not been investigated. The asbestos was chrysotile, chosen because of the predominance of this type in commerce in the United Sttes. The slag mineral fiber used is one of a class of manmade mineral fibers (MMMF). Silca was included as a comparative control. Two experimental procedures were used, namely, (1) intratracheal injection and (2) exposures in environmental chambers. Results of the intratracheal injection study disclosed that asbestos was the most toxic followed by silica. SMF was not significantly different from controls which were injected only with saline. the rats receiving doses of asbestos grew at a slower rate and showed increased mortality compared to controls or SMF-dosed rats.