Review: The Fiber Width of Coalinga Chrysotile: Reduced Respirability due to its Thick Nature in an Aerosol and its ``Ultra-Thin'' Nature in Aqueous Solution (In Vivo)

Abstract

Deposition of particles in the lung is largely controlled by aerodynamic diameter, and fibers greater than a certain diameter cannot reach the alveoli. Coalinga type chrysotiles form long, thick fibers when aerosolized, which are largely nonrespirable and thus have far less potential to produce disease than true long ''non-Coalinga'' chrysotile fibers that are largely thin and mainly respirable. Increased width and reduced respirability, which was first recognized more than 25 years ago, contribute to its lack of biological activity. There is direct qualitative and quantitative evidence to support the enhanced thickness of Coalinga type chrysotiles in an aerosol and indirect evidence by mass concentration measurements. Coalinga chrysotile fibers in aqueous