Asbestos and the lung

Abstract

Asbestos consists of a family of naturally occurring hydrated silicate fibres that may be subdivided into two groups: curly serpentine fibres, of which chrysotile (white) is the only fibre currently in commercial use, and straight, needle-like amphiboles, which comprise crocidolite (blue), amosite (brown), anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. Fibres have a predisposition to localize to the pleura. They differ in their lung clearance kinetics and pathogenic potential; amphibole fibres clear more slowly from the lung and are more carcinogenic than chrysotile. While asbestos usage in developed countries is restricted, the use of chrysotile asbestos in developing economies continues to rise.