Man-made Insulator Unlikely to Pose Same Mesothelioma Risk as Asbestos
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Man-made Insulator Unlikely to Pose Same Mesothelioma Risk as Asbestos

ByAlex Strauss

German scientists say a man-made insulating material called refractory ceramic fiber (RCF) is unlikely to raise the risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma in workers, despite the results of animal studies. . Although some tests of the aluminum-silicate based material on animals have suggested that it may also cause cancer, human studies have found no proof. Now, a new study conducted by researchers in the Institute of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology in Munich say RCF fibers probably do not raise the risk for lung cancer or mesothelioma. They base their conclusion on the fact that RCF fibers are similar in size and shape to rock wool fibers and are likely to have a similar level of toxicity. Rock wool or…

Microscopic Mysteries: Asbestos, Ultrafine Particulates, and Mesothelioma
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Man-Made Fiber May Compound Mesothelioma Risk from Asbestos

ByAlex Strauss

Workers exposed to both asbestos and another insulation material called refractory ceramic fiber (RCF) are more than 4 times as likely to develop malignant pleural mesothelioma as are workers who were only exposed to asbestos. That is the conclusion of a new study from a team of French scientists at the University of Bordeaux. Asbestos, a fibrous mineral used in insulation and building materials, has been known for decades to increase the risk of mesothelioma. RCF is a manmade aluminum-silicate-based material that is also used for insulation, particularly in high-heat industrial applications. Although some animal studies on RCF have suggested that the material might also cause cancer, a 2012 study in Inhalation Toxicology found no increase in lung cancer or…