Findings from selected research articles

Compiled by T.S. Mehta from selected research articles and their cited references. Although not exhaustive, the table below is a first pass at sorting the available information on asbestos sorted by specific minerals.

Mineral Study Description Results
Chrysotile Jaurand's study In vivo study on rats using 20mg of fiber sample per subject Increase in fibers increases chance of mesothelioma
of fiber sample per subject
  Hochella study TEM image of chrysotile fibers Proves that structure of fiber is rolled up, this fiber
may be a cause of lung problems. The reactive
nature of surface sites may also initiate lung disease
  Jones et. al Continuous exposure to rats of At first, this produces an increase of lung fiber
(from Hochella paper) airborne chrysotile content, this trend was seen to level out with time
  Wagner et. al Studies of lung fibers in asbestos Chrysotile amounts found in the lung tissues
(from Hochella paper) workers of asbestos workers was less than expected
  Mossman et. al Everyday exposure of fibers in humans Showed increase in cancers and lung diseases
  Jaurand et. al In vitro study on rat cells, dosage Modified chrysotile did not show great difference
not specified in comparison with unmodified chrysotile
  Kanarek et. al The effect of contamination from An increase of peritoneal and stomach
(from IARC) natural sources of chyrsotile cancers in persons of each sex was seen
  on peritoneal and stomach cancers after being exposed to natural sources of chrysotile
  McGavran et. al In vivo study on short term chrysotile exposure Induced cellular proliferation
(from Rihn et. al) chrysotile exposure
Crocidolite Ahn and Busek Provides TEM, SEM, and AFM Pictures of fiber molecules
(from Hochella paper) of crocidolite
  Crawford In vitro study on human blood serum Quarter of the fibers showed planar defects on
(from Hochella paper) and in vivo study on rodent lung tissue fiber surfaces
  both studies exposed crocidolite fibers  
  to the cells  
  Rihn et. al In vivo study on mice exposing them to Significant increase in mutant frequency of lung
25mL per min per mouse DNA, and mutagenisis is an early event in fiber
  intoxication
  Jones et. al Study on lung tissue of rats which Lung tissue accumulation of crocidolite in exposed
(from Hochella paper) was exposed to crocidolite fiers rats continues to rise with time
Tremolite Schott et. al Study of how amphiboles dissolve Showed that amphiboles dissolve by first becoming
(from Hochella) depleted of coordinated cations (Na, Mg, Ca, Fe)
  Mogk and Locke due to leaching of layers near the surface
(from Hochella)  
  Velbel  
(from Hochella)  
  Schott and Berner  
(from Hochella)  
Asbestos (General) Hansen and Mossman In vitro study on rodent alveolar macrophages Showed that rodent alveolar macrophages produce
(from Hochella) macrophages increases amounts of superoxide in presence of
    asbestos fibers
  Shatos et. al Effect asbestos fibers on lung Shoed that hyrdroxyl and superoxide scavengers
(from Hochella) fibroblasts and tracheal epithelial cells prevented asbestos induced cytotoxicity in cultures
    of lung fibroblasts and tracheal epithelial cells
  JAMA Effect of asbestos exposure on humans Showed that workers exposed to asbestos are
at a greater risk of some diseases
  Lemesch et. al Study of mesothelioma in US citizens Showed that US and European citizens
(from IARC) and European citizens compared to had a higher incidence of mesotheloima
  Israeli citizens compared to Israeli citizens
Amosite Acheson et. al Study of mesothelioma in workers This study reported the exposure to be a
of a UK insulation-board factory probable cause of at least four to five
  mesotheliomas
Cummingtonite McDonald et. al Exposure to cummingtonite-grunerite This study reported that no clear excess
(from IARC) fibers as a cause of cancer of lung cancer was found in subjects
Vermiculite Neuberger et. al Study of miners exposed to vermiculite This study found that miners were at a risk
(from IARC) ratio for lung cancer of up to approximately six fold

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