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A Mimic of the Tumor Microenvironment: A Simple Method for Generating Enriched Cell Populations and Investigating Intercellular Communication
Published on: September 20, 2016
Fibrous glass and cancer
P F Infante1, L D Schuman, J Dement
1Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Fibrous glass (glass wool) materials are carcinogenic and should be listed in the Annual Report on Carcinogens. On a fiber-per-fiber basis, glass fibers may be as potent or more potent than asbestos.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Carcinogenesis
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Debate exists regarding the carcinogenicity of fibrous glass (glass wool).
- Classification as a human carcinogen impacts regulatory listing, such as in the Annual Report on Carcinogens (ARC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review available data on fibrous glass carcinogenicity.
- To evaluate fibrous glass's carcinogenic potential according to established criteria.
- To compare the carcinogenic potency of glass fibers to asbestos fibers.
Main Methods:
- Review of laboratory animal studies and human epidemiologic data.
- Evaluation of data using criteria from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP).
- Comparative analysis of carcinogenic potency on a fiber-per-fiber basis.
Main Results:
- Fibrous glass materials are concluded to be carcinogenic.
- Based on NTP and IARC definitions, fibrous glass warrants listing in the ARC.
- Glass fibers may possess equal or greater carcinogenic potency than asbestos fibers.
Conclusions:
- Fibrous glass should be classified as a likely human carcinogen.
- Findings have significant implications for occupational health regulations.
- Further consideration of fibrous glass in carcinogen reports is recommended.
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