Update on the Health Effects of Man-Made Vitreous Fibers and Potential Fiber Exposures, 1991 Nonwovens Conference Proceedings

Recent studies have provided new evidence and a better understanding of the potential health effects of man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF). An overview of the results of physico-chemical studies, toxicologic studies, and epidemiologic studies will be presented. The role and results of fiber solubility testing to predict the persistence of various man-made fibers in the lungs will be reviewed. Information from recently completed studies and on going animal inhalation studies using state of the art exposure technology at Research and Consulting Company (RCC) in Geneva will also be reviewed. And an update of an on going University of Pittsburgh epidemiologic study of 16000 U.S. fibrous glass and mineral wool workers will be discussed in detail.

Workplace, end user and casual exposure data will be presented with special attention given to recent studies which reveal that ambient fiber levels and potential fiber exposure increases from fiber shedding from filtration media are extremely low. Future research directions and programs will be suggested that will provide the needed information for comparative risk analyses of fibrous products used in filtration media.