Current Intelligence Bulletin: Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongated Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research

After considering stakeholder and peer review comments on the February 2007 draft document, NIOSH developed a revised draft Current Intelligence Bulletin: Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongated Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research and requested public comments on the revised document. Comments received on the revised draft CIB have been considered by NIOSH in developing a new draft CIB which will be reviewed by the National Academies.

Material Under Evaluation

Revised Draft—NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin: Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongated Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research – 6/1/08 [PDF – 28,780 KB]

Notice of draft document available for public comment; 73 FR 43242; 7/24/08 [PDF – 543 KB]

Submissions to the Docket

Submission to the docket from Perea (Foundation for Asbestos Education and Relief) – 7/11/08 [PDF – 163 KB]

Submission to the docket from private person – 9/17/08 [PDF – 152 KB]

Submission to the docket from Kelse (RT Vanderbilt Company, Inc.) – 9/23/08 [PDF – 2,870 KB]

Submission w/appendices and attachments to the docket from Ford (National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association – 9/30/08 [PDF – 583 KB]

• NSSGA Appendix 1— Comments on the Revised NIOSH Roadmap for Asbestos Research [PDF – 343 KB]
• NSSGA Appendix 2 – Review of the NIOSH Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongated Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research – June 2008 [PDF – 64 KB]

Attachments to NSSGA Appendix 2

• Van Orden DR, Allison KA, Lee RJ (2008). Differentiating amphibole asbestos from non-asbestos in a complex mineral environment. Indoor Built Environ 2008; 17; 58 DOI: 10.1177/1420326X07087006. [PDF – 26 KB]
• Clark RL. MSHA standard method for fiber identification B electron microscopy. US Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration. [PDF – 244 KB]
• Ilgren EB (2004). The biology of cleavage fragments: a brief synthesis and analysis of current knowledge. Indoor Built Environ; 2004. [PDF – 53 KB]
• Mossman BT (2007). Assessment of the pathogenic potential of asbestiform vs. nonasbestiform particulates (cleavage fragments) in in vitro (cell or organ culture) models and bioassays. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2007.10.004 [PDF – 83 KB]
• Addison J and McConnell EE (2007). A review of carcinogenicity studies of asbestos and non-asbestos tremolite and other amphiboles. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2007.10.001. [PDF – 87 KB]
• Gamble JF, Gibbs GW, Nolan RP (2008). An evaluation of the risks of lung cancer and mesothelioma from exposure to amphibole cleavage fragments. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2007.09.020. [PDF – 87 KB]
• Berman DW, Crump KS (2008). Update of potency factors for asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma. Critical Review in Toxicology 38(1)1-47. [PDF – 34 KB]
• Berman DW, Crump KS (2008). A meta-analysis of asbestos-related cancer risk that addresses fiber size and mineral type. Critical Reviews in Toxicology 38:1. [PDF – 34 KB]
• Cox LA (T) Jr, Popken DA (2007). Some limitations of aggregate exposure metrics. Risk Anal 27(2):439-445. [PDF – 55 KB]
• Wylie AG, Bailey KF, Kelse JW, Lee RJ (1993). The importance of width in asbestos fiber carcinogenicity and its implications for public policy. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 54(5):239-252. [PDF – 70 KB]
• Swent LW, Herrin GR, Waterland JK, Bell RF. Mortality patterns among hard rock gold miners exposed to an asbestiform mineral—A critique. [PDF – 998 KB]
• Wylie AG, Bailey KF (1992). The mineralogy and size of airborne chrysotile and rock fragments: Ramifications of using the NIOSH 7400 method. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 53(7):442-447. [PDF – 82 KB]
• MSHA (2005). Environmental dust and fiber investigation: Northshore Mining Company, Silver Bay, Lake County, Minnesota, Mine ID No. 21 00831. Pittsburgh, PA: Mine Safety and Health Administration. [PDF – 1,290 KB]
• Oehlert GW (1991). A reanalysis of the Stanton et al pleural sarcoma data. Environ Res 54:194-205. [PDF – 49 KB]
• Mineral photos; Asbestiform vs. Rocks Characteristics; Igneous and Metamorphic Rock Map [PDF – 515 KB]
• Letter from Ford to Meer/Johnson (EPA) re: Evaluation of EPA’s analytical data from the El Dorado Hills asbestos evaluation project – 7/7/06. [PDF – 3,560 KB]

Attachment to Ford letter

• Photos of bulk asbestos samples as an attachment to Ford 7/7/06 letter [PDF – 2,920 KB]
• Letter to William Ford from D. Wayne Berman (Aeolus) with report – 6/30/06 [PDF – 186 KB]

Attachment to Berman letter

• Report “Evaluation of the approach recently proposed for assessing asbestos-related risk in El Dorado County, California – 6/30/06 [PDF – 10,320 KB]
• Letter to Johnson/Meer (EPA) from Richard Lee (RJ Lee Group, Inc.) re: Natural occurring asbestos – El Dorado Hills, California – 7/7/06 [PDF – 777 KB]

Attachments to Lee letter

• Exhibit A – Response of RJ Lee Group re: evaluation of EPA’s analytical data from the El Dorado Hills asbestos evaluation project – 7/06 [PDF – 10,630 KB]
• Lab/Cor photographs of particles – 7/06 [PDF – 5,410 KB]
• TEM and FESEM particle images and data – 7/06 [PDF – 30,390 KB]
• Particles and their related extinction angles – 7/06 [PDF – 5,810 KB]
• Exhibit B – Response to Mr. Meeker’s letter (undated) to Dr. Vicki Barber (El Dorado Hills school district) [PDF – 1,570 KB]
• Exhibit C – Response to EPA Region 9 (Meer) letter dated 3/9/06 – 7/06 [PDF – 9,000 KB]
• The Asbestiform and prismatic mineral growth habit and their relationship to cancer studies – 3/04 [PDF – 11,460 KB]

Submission to the Docket from Weisbrod (American Association for Justice) – 9/30/08 [PDF – 2,760 KB]

Submission to the Docket from Ellis (Industrial Minerals Association – North America) – 9/30/08 [PDF – 3,590 KB]

Submission to the Docket from Glenn (Coalition for Litigation Justice, Inc.) – 10/01/08 [PDF – 4,436 KB]

Lamm SH, Starr JA (1990). Similarities in lung cancer and respiratory disease mortality of Vermont and New York State talc workers. In: Proceedings of the VII International Pneumoconioses Conference. NIOSH Publication 90-108, pages 1576-1581. [PDF – 1,3606 KB]

Song F, Zhang J, Yuan G, Wu S, Chen F (1990). Bahavioral toxicity in silicotic patients (Pilot study). In: Proceedings of the VII International Pneumoconioses Conference. NIOSH Publication 90-108, pages 1573-1575. [PDF – 578 KB]

Zhu H (1990). Dose-response relationship between asbestos exposure and incidence of asbestosis. In: Proceedings of the VII International Pneumoconioses Conference. NIOSH Publication 90-108, pages 1560-1562. [PDF – 785 KB]

Tong Y (1990). The correlation between silicosis and lung cancer—pathological evidences from 5 autopsied cases. In: Proceedings of the VII International Pneumoconioses Conference. NIOSH Publication 90-108, pages 1563-1572. [PDF – 2,280 KB]

NIOSH’s response to submission received from R.T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. – 1/9/09 [PDF – 12,410 KB]

NIOSH’s response to submission received from National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association – 1/9/09 [PDF – 12,900 KB]

NIOSH’s response to submission received from Private person – 1/9/09 [PDF – 464 KB]

NIOSH’s response to submission received from Foundation for Asbestos Education and Relief – 1/9/09 [PDF – 369 KB]

NIOSH’s response to submission received from the American Association for Justice – 1/9/09 [PDF – 2,800 KB]

NIOSH’s response to submission received from the Industrial Minerals Association-North America – 1/9/09 [PDF – 347 KB]

NIOSH’s response to submission received from the Coalition for Litigation Justice, Inc. – 1/13/09 [PDF – 9,900 KB]

Note: Curriculum vitaes were submitted and are maintained in NIOSH Docket Office