Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongate Mineral Particles: State of the ...

Contents
Foreword ............................................................ iii
Executive Summary ................................................... v
List of Figures ........................................................ xiv
List of Tables ......................................................... xiv
Abbreviations ........................................................ xv
Acknowledgments .......................................................... xvii
1 Introduction ....................................................... 1
2 Overview of Current Issues ........................................... 5
2.1 Background .................................................. 5
2.2 Minerals and Mineral Morphology .............................. 6
2.3 Terminology ................................................. 7
2.3.1 Mineralogical Definitions ............................. 8
2.3.2 Other Terms and Definitions ........................... 9
2.4 Trends in Asbestos Use, Occupational Exposures, and Disease ...... 9
2.4.1 Trends in Asbestos Use ................................ 9
2.4.2 Trends in Occupational Exposure ....................... 10
2.4.3 Trends in Asbestos-related Disease ...................... 12
2.5 Workers’ Home Contamination ................................. 14
2.6 Clinical Issues ................................................ 15
2.7 The NIOSH Recommendation for Occupational Exposure
to Asbestos ................................................... 17
2.7.1 The NIOSH REL as Revised in 1990 ..................... 18
2.7.2 Clarification of the Current NIOSH REL ................. 33
2.8 EMPs Other than Cleavage Fragments ........................... 34
2.8.1 Chrysotile ........................................... 34
2.8.2 Asbestiform Amphibole Minerals ....................... 36
2.8.3 Other Minerals of Potential Concern .................... 38
2.9 Determinants of Particle Toxicity and Health Effects ............... 39
2.9.1 Deposition .......................................... 39
2.9.2 Clearance and Retention .............................. 40
xi