Asbestos fiber length and its relation to disease risk

Differences in chemical and crystalline composition, fiber dimension, aerodynamic characteristics and biodurability are among the critical factors that define the toxicological and pathological consequences of asbestos exposure. Specifically, fiber dimension can impact whether the fiber is respired,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Inhalation toxicology 2017-12, Vol.29 (12-14), p.541-554
Main Authors: Barlow, Christy A., Grespin, Matthew, Best, Elizabeth A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Asbestos
Asbestos - metabolism
Asbestos - toxicity
Carcinogens - metabolism
Carcinogens - toxicity
Cells, Cultured
Environmental Exposure - adverse effects
fiber length
fibrosis
Humans
Lung - drug effects
Lung - metabolism
Lung - pathology
lung cancer
mesothelioma
Mineral Fibers - toxicity
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Pulmonary Fibrosis - chemically induced
Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism
Pulmonary Fibrosis - pathology
risk assessment
Risk Factors
short fiber
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Summary:Differences in chemical and crystalline composition, fiber dimension, aerodynamic characteristics and biodurability are among the critical factors that define the toxicological and pathological consequences of asbestos exposure. Specifically, fiber dimension can impact whether the fiber is respired, whether and how deeply it is deposited in the lung, and how efficiently and rapidly it may be cleared. This paper provides a current, comprehensive evaluation of the weight of evidence regarding the relationship between asbestos fiber length and disease potency (for malignant and nonmalignant endpoints). In vitro studies, animal exposure studies and epidemiology data were reviewed. We found that the data reported over the last several decades consistently support the conclusions that exposure to fibers longer than 10 µm and perhaps 20 µm are required to significantly increase the risk of developing asbestos-related disease in humans and that there is very little, if any, risk associated with exposure to fibers shorter than 5 µm. Fiber length as a predictor of potency has been evaluated by several federal agencies in the U.S. and could significantly influence future regulatory decisions for elongated mineral particles (EMPs) and high-aspect ratio nanoparticles (HARNs).
ISSN:0895-8378
1091-7691
DOI:10.1080/08958378.2018.1435756