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State-of-the-science assessment of non-asbestos amphibole exposure: Is there a cancer risk?

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Abstract

The distinction between amphibole asbestos fibers and non-asbestos amphibole particles has important implications for assessing potential cancer risks associated with exposure to amphibole asbestos or amphibole-containing products. Exposure to amphibole asbestos fibers can pose a cancer risk due to its ability to reside for long periods of time in the deep lung (i.e., biopersistence). In contrast, non-asbestos amphibole particles are usually cleared rapidly from the lung and do not pose similar respiratory risks even at high doses. Most regulatory and public health agencies, as well as scientific bodies, agree that non-asbestos amphiboles possess reduced biological (e.g., carcinogenic) activity. Although non-asbestos amphibole minerals have been excluded historically from Federal regulations, non-asbestos structures may be counted as asbestos fibers on the basis of dimensional criteria specified in analytical protocols. Given the potential to mischaracterize a non-asbestos structure as a “true” asbestos fiber, our objective was to assess whether exposure to non-asbestos amphiboles that may meet the dimensional criteria for counting as a fiber pose a cancer risk similar to amphibole asbestos. We reviewed analytical methods as well as the mineralogical, epidemiological, and toxicological literature for non-asbestos amphiboles. No evidence of demonstrable cancer effects from exposure to non-asbestos amphiboles that may be counted as fibers, under certain assessment protocols, was found. Data gaps (industrial hygiene data for amphibole-exposed cohorts), inconsistencies (analytical laboratory methods/protocols used to count fibers), and sources of potential bias from misclassification of exposure were identified.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Environ Corporation Center for Exposure Reconstruction Analysis and Health Sciences and RJ Lee Group, and contributions of John Imse, Daniel Podraza and William Thompson, and reviewers Ken Mundt, James Poole, Fred Boelter and Angela Harris. They also acknowledge the testimony of R. Adams and D. Van Orden in litigation matters related to asbestos exposures and the testimony of C. Williams in litigation matters related to exposure, dose, and health sciences.

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  1. Environ International, 10150 Highland Manor Drive, Suite 440, Tampa, FL, 33610, USA

    Cris Williams

  2. Environ International, 28 Amity Street, Suite 2A, Amherst, MA, 01002, USA

    Linda Dell

  3. Environ International, 214 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA

    Robert Adams

  4. Environ International, 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 2700, Chicago, IL, 60606, USA

    Tracie Rose

  5. RJ Lee Group, Inc., 350 Hochberg Road, Monroeville, PA, 15146, USA

    Drew Van Orden

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  1. Cris Williams
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Correspondence to Cris Williams.

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Williams, C., Dell, L., Adams, R. et al. State-of-the-science assessment of non-asbestos amphibole exposure: Is there a cancer risk?. Environ Geochem Health 35, 357–377 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-012-9500-0

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