Abstract
Studies on fiber aerosols suitable for inhalation are described. The methods used to prepare, generate and characterize glass fiber aerosols are reported. The results of fiber length and diameter determinations were used to classify fibers in a length-diameter matrix. The distribution of fiber volume and aspect ratio (length/diameter) could be determined from this classification. Five fiber preparations were classified and one chosen for inhalation exposure studies. Average fiber length and diameter of this aerosol were 11.4 and 0.16 µm, respectively. Aerosol fiber aspect ratio was lognormally distributed with a median value of 80. The product of aspect ratio and frequency of occurrence was also lognormally distributed with respect to length and diameter. The fiber aerosol contained 4.2–6.1×104 fibers/cc of which 6–8% were longer than 20 µm.