11. Synthetic mineral fibres

 

Synthetic fibres made from minerals, are sometimes referred to as man-made mineral fibres (MMMF) or machine-made mineral fibres (also MMMF). These fibres may be either crystalline or non-crystalline. Man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) is a term sometimes used for non-crystalline materials with a vitreous or glass-like structure. The largest amounts of synthetic mineral fibres produced are made as mineral wool, either as slag wool, glass wool or rock wool. These materials are widely used for moderate to low temperature insulation, for example in the lofts of domestic premises. Glass continuous filaments are produced for use in making glass fibre cloth and other similar applications; they tend to have an average diameter about 6 to 10 μm. Special-purpose glass fibres are used for filtration, specialist acoustic insulation or for other purposes. These fibres typically have an average diameter of 1 μm or less. Refractory ceramic fibres (RCF) refers to fibres made from aluminium silicate.

Unlike asbestos, the synthetic vitreous fibers do not break into thinner fibers when handled although they may break into shorter fibres. This means that in most situations where synthetic mineral fibres are handled the concentrations are lower than would be found with asbestos. However, just as with asbestos it is the thinner fibres that remain in the air long enough to be inhaled and it is generally considered that fibres with a diameter less than 3 μm are respirable, i.e. if inhaled will penetrate to the alveolar region of the lung.

In the 1970's experiments carried out with synthetic mineral fibres showed that if they were artificially implanted into the lung they could cause tumours. However, extensive epidemiological studies in Europe and North America have shown that glass, rock and slag wool do not cause mesothelioma and do not increase the risk for lung cancer amongst workers manufacturing these materials.

In 2002, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a summary of their evaluation of the cancer risks from some synthetic mineral fibres8. They concluded that:

  • Continuous glass filament, glass wool, rock wool and slag wool are not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3)
  • Special-purpose glass fibres such as E-glass and '475' glass fibres are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)
  • Refractory ceramic fibres are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)

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References

  1. Doll R, Peto J (1985) Asbestos. Effects on health of exposure to asbestos. Sudbury: HSE Books.

  2. Darnton AJ, McElvenny DM, Hodgson JT. (2006) Estimating the number of asbestos-related lung cancer deaths in Great Britain from 1980 to 2000. Ann Occup Hyg;50(1): 29-38. Available at: http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/50/1/29

  3. Hodgson JT, Darnton A. (2000) The quantitative risks of mesothelioma and lung cancer in relation to asbestos exposure. Ann Occup Hyg; 44(8): 565-601. http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/8/565

  4. Peto J, Gilham C, Hatch J. (2009) Occupational, domestic and environmental mesothelioma risks in Britain: A case-control study. Bootle: HSE.

    http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr696.htm

  5. Paris C, Martin A, Letourneux M, Wild P. (2008) Modelling prevalence and incidence of fibrosis and pleural plaques in asbestos-exposed populations for screening and follow-up: a cross-sectional study. Environmental Health; 7: 30. http://www.ehjournal.net/content/pdf/1476-069X-7-30.pdf

  6. Davis JMG, Addison J, McIntosh C, Miller BG, Niven K. (1991) Variations in the Carcinogenicity of Tremolite Dust Samples of Differing Morphology. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences; 643: 473 - 490. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119349749/abstract

  7. NIOSH (2009) Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongated Mineral Particles:

    State of the Science and Roadmap for Research. Revised Draft NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin. Cincinnati: NIOSH. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/pdfs/NIOSH-099B/099B-010109-Asbestos-NA-Review%20doc.pdf

  8. Available at: http://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol81/81.html

More information

There is a great deal of helpful information on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/

Information form the World health Organisation http://www.euro.who.int/document/aiq/6_2_asbestos.pdf

IOM's Managing Asbestos Services http://www.iom-world.org/services/asbestos.php

 

 

 

 

 

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