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Asbestos

Related Pages
RTECS #
CI6475000
CAS #
1332-21-4
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods
Updated
March 2019
Molecular Weight
N/R
Molecular Formula
N/R
Synonyms
Amianthus
Amosite (Obs.)
Amphibole
Asbest (German)
Asbestos (ACGIH:OSHA)
Asbestos fiber
Asbestos fibre
Asbestos, all forms
Fibrous grunerite
NCI C08991

Mutation Data and Reference

System TestRoute/Organism/TissueDoseReference
mutation in microorganisms/Escherichia coli10 mg/plate (+/-enzymatic activation step)PSEBAA 177,343,1984

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
implant/rat lowest published toxic dose: 750 mg/kgTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application		ZEKBAI 62,561,1958
intraperitoneal/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 80 mg/kgTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application		PAACA3 24,61,1983

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
In Vitro/Human, lung tumor Inhibitor Concentration Low: 12 mg/L/3DIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Apoptosis in vitroTOLED5 200,176,2011
In Vitro/Human, lung tumor Inhibitor Concentration Low: 25 mg/L/6DIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Apoptosis in vitroTOLED5 200,176,2011
In Vitro/Human, lung tumor Inhibitor Concentration Low: 7.5 mg/L/6DIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.TOLED5 200,176,2011
In Vitro/Mouse, macrophage Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 340 mg/L/17HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell membrane integrity: Cytoplasmic enzymes leakage (lactate dehydrogenase, ATP enzymes etc.)TIVIEQ 1,77,1987
In Vitro/Mouse, macrophage Inhibitor Concentration Low: 35 µg/cm2/48HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell proliferation: DNA incorporation, mitotic index etc.

Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation		TXAPA9 275,257,2014
inhalation/human lowest published toxic concentration: 1.2 fiber/cubic centimeter/19Y- continuousLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Pleural effusion

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Sputum		ARDSBL 104,576,1971
intraperitoneal/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 400 µg/kgBlood: Changes in spleen

Immunological Including Allergic: Increase in cellular immune response		TOXID9 -,124,2008
intratracheal/rat lowest published toxic dose: 20 mg/kgLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes

Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Multiple enzyme effects

Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation		TOXID9 -,191,2009
intratracheal/rat Lethal dose: >4 mL/kgLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes

Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Dehydrogenases		CHYCDW 32,139,1998
intratracheal/rat lowest published toxic dose: 4 mg/kgBiochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Plasma proteins not involving coagulation

Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation		TXAPA9 260,105,2012

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
intratracheal/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 2400 µg/kg/1W- intermittentTXAPA9 275,257,2014

Reviews

OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.1 f/cubic centimeter (resp)DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-Confirmed human carcinogenDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 2,17,1973
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 2,17,1973
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 14,11,1977
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 14,11,1977
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Group 1IMSUDL 7,106,1987
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWJPMSAE 64,1435,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWPEDIAU 57,462,1976
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWJJOMDZ 15,808,1973
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCANCAR 39,1792,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW85CVA2 5,55,1970
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW31BYAP -,92,1974
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWZHPMAT 166,113,1978
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWNOSYBW 40,311,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWPEXTAR 12,102,1969
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWNTIS** CONF-691001
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCNDIBJ 85,559,1976
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 566,21,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOLED5 127,251,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOLED5 140-141,223,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOLED5 140-141,311,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 567,227,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWENTOX* -,179,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 658,124,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 659,202,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 659,31,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 544,313,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 544,385,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 681,93,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 681,24,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 674,3,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 674,62,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 608,157,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 579,6,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 23,191,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOVEFN -,27,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 26,101,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 26,33,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 736,122,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 750,132,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 27,257,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTXAPA9 248,71,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 744,8,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 759,27,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 776,118,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 768,27,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 768,14,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWFCTOD7 86,298,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTXCYAC 313,73,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 770,12,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 770,106,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 773,188,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 774,12,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 775,11,2018
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWFCTOD7 109,650,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOLED5 273,69,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWANMNA* ,511,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWRTOPDW 53,134,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWRTOPDW 60,84,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWVETODR ,215,2018

Standards and Regulations

OrganizationStandardReference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-airtime-weighted average 5 fb/cc (fb > 5 um)DTLWS* 3,33,1973
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA0.1 f/mL, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPANOccupational Exposure Limit 0.003 fcc, 1 carc, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDcarcinogen, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAYtime-weighted average 0.1 fiber/cm3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 0.1 fib/cc, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDENtime-weighted average 0.1 f/cc, Carcinogen, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 0.01 f/cc, carc 1, JAN2011
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)see Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 29,1926.58CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 0.2 f/ccCFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARDCFRGBR 29,1910.1001,1991

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

OrganizationStandardReference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO ASBESTOS-air100M time-weighted average 0.1 fb/cc in a 400L air sampleNIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code 90310; Number of Industries 81; Total Number of Facilities 15617; Number of Occupations 86; Total Number of Employees Exposed 215265; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 9727
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code 90310; Number of Industries 154; Total Number of Facilities 30863; Number of Occupations 117; Total Number of Employees Exposed 449904

Status in Federal Agencies

OrganizationReference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/2001/109101)
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Negative: TRP reversion
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Positive: Carcinogenicity-mouse/rat
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Asbestos (bulk) by PLM, 9002; by PCM, 7400; by TEM, 7402
NIOSH CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 5, 1975
NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens,2016:Known to be a human carcinogen
On EPA IRIS database
Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health