Mesothelioma in Relation to Asbestos (1970)

This was a final progress report on a research grant covering the period 03/01/66 to 08/31/70, from the Health Research Institute at Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey. The author tested 23 preparations of asbestos and other minerals in male hamsters, 50 per group. Each treated hamster received a single injection into the chest (pleural) cavity. Animals were followed for up to 650 or 700 days, or somewhat longer in a few groups according to notes in Table 1, and two untreated control groups were also followed. Long-fiber chrysotile at 25 mg produced 8, 9 and 10 animals with mesothelioma in three groups. When the same chrysotiles were ground so that most fibers were shorter than 5 microns, no mesotheliomas arose. Responses to chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite fell as the dose was lowered. At the lowest dose, 1 mg, mesotheliomas were found with crocidolite but not with chrysotile or amosite. Anthophyllite, nickel powder, microquartz fibers and diatomaceous earth also produced mesotheliomas. Tremolite talc, nemalite and glass fibers did not, and serpentine rock dust produced one case. No mesotheliomas were found in untreated controls. The author concluded that asbestos hazards should be controllable by reducing exposure.

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From J-M's medical library

This copy comes from the Johns-Manville medical library. It was among the papers J-M kept in its medical library without an index entry.

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