Mining Feature: Workshop on Elongate Mineral Particles: Integrating Terminology and Characterization

Friday, April 14, 2017

NAS and NIOSH logos on asbestos sampleNIOSH is sponsoring a workshop May 15-16, 2017, which is being organized by the National Academies of the Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, D.C.

The workshop will address terminology and characterization of elongate mineral particles—a class of particles which includes asbestos fibers—in order to standardize how these particles are defined and described in scientific language. Doing so will allow for more consistent research moving forward, which is key, as asbestos and similar-sized particles may lead to negative effects on the health of miners and workers in other industries.

The workshop will also feature presentations and panel discussions, and will bring together experts in mineralogy and petrology, environmental geochemistry, inhalation toxicology, and environmental and occupational health.

Registration for this workshop was open on the National Academies' website.


Page last reviewed: April 14, 2017
Page last updated: April 14, 2017