Abstract
Synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs) are a group of inorganic materials that contain aluminum or calcium silicates and are made from rock, clay, slag, or glass. SVFs have been used for more than a century for insulation, liquid and gas filtration, industrial textiles, and reinforcement. Unlike asbestos, SVFs are characterized by an amorphous (noncrystalline) molecular structure. The relationship of asbestos fibers with lung fibrosis and thoracic cancers has raised concern regarding possible health effects of SVFs. Human epidemiology studies of SVF toxicity have found little association between SVFs and lung disease. Laboratory studies, however, have demonstrated lung effects in rodents related to fiber length, biopersistence, and dose. Here, we review the current research, discuss toxicity mechanisms, and summarize the state of the science regarding the health effects of SVFs.
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