[Health effects of artificial mineral fibers]

Data from mortality studies in cohorts of workers employed in the production of man-made mineral fibres, where levels of exposure were generally low, show an excess of mortality by lung cancer, although the role of the fibres themselves remains unclear in this excess. Standardized mortality ratio for lung cancer was lower in glass-wool production workers than in rock-slag-wool workers. Preliminary data for refractory ceramic fibres-exposed workers suggest the occurrence of benign pleural diseases and obstructive functional defects. Attention should be paid to levels of exposure to various man-made mineral fibres encountered by end-users commonly exposed to peaks of fibre concentrations higher than production workers.