Asbestos and other fibrous materials: mineralogy, crystal chemistry, and health effects, by H. Catherine W. Skinner [and others]

This comprehensive sourcebook describes the chemical, physical, and mineralogical aspects of fibrous inorganic materials, both synthetic and naturally occurring. A general description of the fibrous state, the range of compounds that can adopt this form, and an overview of the characteristics unique to such materials form the backbone of the book . The authors also assess the application and use of asbestos and other fibrous materials in industry and evaluate their potential as health hazards. The information gathered here will be highly useful to medical investigators and legal professionals involved in environmental health. Contents......Page 10 Fibers and History......Page 14 Definitions of Fiber......Page 15 Nomenclature......Page 17 The Properties of Inorganic Fibers......Page 22 Classification of Inorganic Fibrous Materials......Page 27 FIBROUS MINERALS......Page 31 The Crystal Chemistry of Mineral Materials......Page 32 Silicate and Aluminosilicate Minerals that Form Fibers......Page 38 Asbestos......Page 53 Other Chain Aluminosilicates that Form Fibers......Page 57 Aluminosilicates with Sheet Structures that Form Fibers......Page 62 Other Aluminosilicates that Form Fibers......Page 77 Isolated Tetrahedra Silicates......Page 83 Silica Minerals that Are Fibrous......Page 86 Fibers of Nonsilicate Minerals......Page 90 SYNTHETIC FIBERS......Page 91 MMVF or Glass Fibers......Page 93 Whiskers......Page 97 Carbon and Graphite Fibers......Page 101 Summary......Page 105 Historical Highlights and Perspectives......Page 114 The Respiratory System: Structure and Function......Page 119 The Pleura: Structure and Function......Page 125 The Lymphatic System: Structure and Function......Page 127 Fiber Inhalation and Health Effects......Page 131 Epidemiology of Exposure to Fibrous Materials......Page 155 Summary......Page 160 Appendixes......Page 174 A......Page 202 C......Page 204 F......Page 205 M......Page 206 U......Page 207 Z......Page 208 Credits......Page 209 C......Page 212 G......Page 213 P......Page 214 Z......Page 215 PART I: What is an Inorganic Fiber? 1. Fibers and History2. Definitions of Fiber3. Nomenclature4. The Properties of Inorganic Fibers5. Classification of Inorganic Fibrous MaterialsPART II: Fibrous Minerals and Synthetic Fibers 6. The Crystal Chemistry of Mineral Materials7. Silicate and Aluminosilicate Minerals that Form Fibers8. Asbestos9. Other Chain Aluminosilicates that Form Fibers10. Aluminosilicates with Sheet Structures that Form Fibers11. Isolated Tetrahedra Silicates12. Silica Minerals that are Fibrous13. Fibers of Nonsilicate Minerals14. MMVF or Glass Fibers15. Whiskers16. Carbon and This comprehensive sourcebook introduces inorganic fibrous materials, both synthetic and naturally occurring. It provides an accessible general description of the fibrous state, the range of compounds that can adopt this form, and their unique characteristics. The author also assesses their use in industry and evaluates their safety A detailed sourcebook for fibrous inorganic materials, both synthetic and natural, which includes a general description of the fibrous state, the range of compounds that can adopt this form, and their unique characteristics.