Comparative pulmonary responses to inhaled inorganic fibers with asbestos and fiberglass.

Abstract One group of rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs was exposed to amosite asbestos by inhalation of fibers of lengths greater than 5 μm at 3.1 × 10 6 /liter, fiberglass at 0.7 × 10 6 /liter, potassium octatitanate (Fybex, Du Pont's registered trademark for inorganic reinforcing titanate fibers) at 2.9 × 10 6 /liter, and pigmentary potassium titanate (PKT) at 2.0 × 10 6 /liter, respectively, for 6 hr/day for 3 months. One group of animals exposed to air alone was used as control. In addition, three groups of rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs were exposed to Fybex at 2.9 × 10 6 /liter, 13.5 × 10 6 /liter, respectively, for 3 months. One group served as control. Asbestos, Fybex, and PKT produced essentially similar pulmonary responses but with marked differences in fibrogenicity and species differences. Asbestos was the most potent fibrogenic agent and was more than 10 times more fibrogenic than Fybex in terms of exposure concentration. Dose-related fibrogenic activity was found in the animals exposed to Fybex. PKT was the least fibrogenic and produced very minute pulmonary fibrosis in rats and hamsters but not in guinea pigs. Fine fiberglass particles were not fibrogenic. Rats revealed more fibrogenic pulmonary reactions than guinea pigs or hamsters. A few pulmonary tumors developed in animals exposed to asbestos, Fybex, and fiberglass, but their numbers were too small to allow any conclusions on carcinogenicity to be drawn. Fybex produced mesotheliomas in a few hamsters and its possible carcinogenic potential cannot be ruled out.

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