RT Report
T1 Environmental Health Criteria 203: Chrysotile Asbestos
A1 International Programme on Chemical Safety, 
A2 Gibbs, G.
A2 Pigg, B.J.
A2 Nicholson, W.J.
A2 Morgan, A.
A2 Lippmann, M.
A2 Davis, J.M.G.
A2 Mossman, B.T.
A2 McDonald, J.C.
A2 Landrigan, P.J.
A2 Schreier, H.
K1 environmental health
K1 asbestos
K1 chemical
K1 toxic substance
PB World Health Organization
SN 92 4 157203 5
YR 1998
FD 1998
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29477
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29477
NO Chrysotile is a fibrous hydrated magnesium silicate mineral that has been used in many commercial products. It is widely used in global commerce today. Its physical and chemical properties as a mineral are observed to vary among the exploited geological deposits. The minerals that accompany the fibre in ores are many, and among these may be some varieties of fibrous amphibole. Tremolite is thought to be especially important in this respect; its form and concentration range greatly.
NO PreambleAbbreviationsIntroductionSummary1.1 Identity, Physical and Chemical Properties, Sampling and Analysis1.2 Sources of Occupational and Environmental Exposure1.3 Occupational and Environmental Exposure Levels1.4 Uptake, Clearance, Retention and Translocation1.5 Effects on Animals and Cells1.6 Effects on Humans1.7 Environmental Fate and Effects on BiotaIdentity, Physical and Chemical Properties, Sampling and Analysis2.1 Identity2.1.1 Chemical Composition2.1.2 Structure2.1.3 Fibre Forms in the Ore2.1.4 Fibre Properties2.1.5 UICC Samples2.1.6 Associated Minerals in Chrysotile Ore2.2 Physical and Chemical Properties2.2.1 Physical Properties2.2.2 Chemical Properties2.3 Sampling and Analytical Methods2.3.1 Workplace Sampling2.3.2 Sampling in the General Environment2.3.3 Analytical Methods2.3.3.1 Fibre Identification2.3.3.2 Measurement of Airborne Fibre Concentrations2.3.3.3 Lung Tissue Analysis2.3.3.4 Gravimetric Analysis2.4 Conversion Factors2.4.1 Conversion from Airborne Particle to Fibre Concentrations2.4.2 Conversion from Total Mass to Fibre Number ConcentrationsSources of Occupational and Environmental Exposure3.1 Natural Occurrence3.2 Anthropogenic Sources3.2.1 Production3.2.2 Manufacture of Products3.2.3 Use of ProductsOccupational and Environmental Exposure Levels4.1 Occupational Exposure4.1.1 Mining and Milling4.1.2 Textile Production4.1.3 Asbestos-Cement4.1.4 Friction Products4.1.5 Exposure of Building Maintenance Personnel4.1.6 Various Industries4.2 Non-Occupational Exposure4.2.1 Ambient Air4.2.2 Indoor AirUptake, Clearance, Retention and Translocation5.1 Inhalation5.1.1 General Principles5.1.2 Fibre Deposition5.1.3 Fibre Clearance and Retention5.1.3.1 Fibre Clearance and Retention in Humans5.1.3.2 Fibre Clearance and Retention in Laboratory Animals5.1.4 Fibre Translocation5.1.4.1 Fibre Translocation in Humans5.1.4.2 Fibre Translocation in Animal Models5.1.5 Mechanisms of Fibre Clearance5.2 IngestionEffects on Laboratory Mammals and In Vitro Test Systems6.1 Introduction6.2 Effects on Laboratory Mammals6.2.1 Summary of Previous Studies6.2.2 Recent Long-Term Inhalation Studies6.2.3 Intratracheal and Intrabronchial Injection Studies6.2.4 Intraperitoneal and Intrapleural Injection Studies6.2.5 Ingestion Studies6.3 Studies on Cells6.3.1 Genotoxicity and Interactions with DNA6.3.2 Cell Proliferation6.3.3 Inflammation6.3.4 Cell Death and Cytotoxicity6.3.5 Liberation of Growth Factors and Other Response of Cells of the Immune SystemEffects on Humans7.1 Occupational Exposure7.1.1 Pneumoconiosis and Other Non-Malignant Respiratory Effects7.1.2 Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma7.1.2.1 Critical Occupational Cohort Studies: Chrysotile7.1.2.2 Comparisons of Lung Cancer Exposure-Response: Critical Studies7.1.2.3 Other Relevant Studies7.1.3 Other Malignant Diseases7.1.3.1 Critical Occupational Cohort Studies Involving Chrysotile7.1.3.2 Other Relevant Studies7.2 Non-Occupational ExposureEnvironmental Fate and Effects on Biota8.1 Environmental Transport and Distribution8.1.1 Chrysotile Fibres in Water8.1.2 Chrysotile Fibres in Soil8.2 Effects on Biota8.2.1 Impact on Plants8.2.2 Impact on Terrestrial Life-Forms8.2.3 Impact on Aquatic BiotaEvaluation of Health Risks of Exposure to Chrysotile Asbestos9.1 Introduction9.2 Exposure9.2.1 Occupational Exposure9.2.1.1 Production9.2.1.2 Use9.2.2 General Population Exposure9.3 Health Effects9.3.1 Occupational Exposure9.3.1.1 Fibrosis9.3.1.2 Lung Cancer9.3.1.3 Mesothelioma9.3.2 General Environment9.4 Effects on the EnvironmentConclusions and Recommendations for Protection of Human HealthFurther ResearchReferencesRésuméResumen
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 24, 2026