Lung Biopersistence and in Vitro Dissolution Rate Predict the Pathogenic Potential of Synthetic Vitreous Fibers

Abstract

Here we review the past decade of research on inorganic fiber toxicology, which demonstrates that fiber biopersistence and in vitro dissolution rate correlate well with fiber pathogenicity. Test fibers for these studies included eight synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs)—refractory ceramic fiber (RCF1), four fiber glasses (FCs), rock wool, slag wool, HT stone wool—and two asbestos types (crocidolite and amosite). Fiber toxicology and biopersistence were investigated using rodents exposed by inhalation. To evaluate chronic inhalation toxicity, rodents were exposed nose-only to ∼ 100 fibers >20 µm in length (F > 20 µm)/cm³, 6 h/day, 5 days/wk, for 2 yr (rats) or 1½ yr (hamsters). To evaluate lung biopersistence, rats were exposed nose-only for 5 days to fiber aerosol; lung burdens were then analyzed during 1 yr postexposure. In vitro dissolution rate was evaluated in a flow-through system using physiological solutions that mimic the inorganic components of extra- and intracellular lung fluids. The 10 test fibers encompassed a range of respiratory toxicities, from transient inflammation only to carcinogenesis. Lung clearance weighted half-times (WT½) for F > 20 µm were 6–15 days for stonewool, building insulation FCs, and slag wool; 50–80 days for rock wool, 2 special-application FCs, and RCFI; and >400 days for asbestos. WT½ correlated with pathogenicity: The rapidly clearing fibers were innocuous (insulation FCs, slag wool, and stonewool), but the more biopersistent fibers were fibrogenic (rock wool) or fibrogenic and carcinogenic (special-application FCs, RCFI, amosite and crocidolite asbestos). In vitro dissolution rates (k dis= ng/cm²/h) of the 10 fibers at pH 7.4 or 4.5 ranged from < 1 to >600. Fibers that dissolved rapidly in vitro also cleared quickly from the lung and induced only transient inflammation in the chronic studies. In contrast, fibers that dissolved slowly in vitro were biopersistent in the lung and tended to induce permanent pathogenicity. Other in vitro studies of fiber degradation suggest that, in addition to fiber dissolution, fiber leaching and subsequent transverse breakage may also be important mechanisms in lung biopersistence and hence pathogenicity. The validity of using lung biopersistence for predicting the potential pathogenicity of SVFs is confirmed by this research. The research also supports the use of in vitro fiber degradation at pH 7.4 and/or pH 4.5 as an indicator of SVF potential pathogenicity.