Short additional presentationPROBLEMS IN DEFINING CARCINOGENIC FIBRES

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Abstract
For health protection, not only asbestos fibres but all carcinogenic fibres should be regulated. Therefore, we need a definition for carcinogenic fibres and criteria for grading their carcinogenic potency. Much effort has been spent on the problem of determining how the carcinogenic potency of fibres varies with their length and diameter. The role of surface properties is not yet clear. Regarding the significance of the durability of fibres in the body and their persistence in a certain area some questions have to be put to the cell biologists; for example: how long do fibres have to stay in the bronchial wall or serosa tissue in order to cause an alteration that can lead to the development of a tumour without the further presence of fibres% Does a longer persistence time lead to a proportionately greater effect% The shortest necessary period of persistence can be seen as a kind of threshold value. It should be longer in humans than in rats. To avoid false negative results in testing the carcinogenic potency of inorganic fibres, the simple and sensitive intraperitoneal test should be recommended.

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