• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.184-195
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide information in reference to the health hazards of asbestos substitutes. Methods: This study was conducted by reviewing the literature on the types of asbestos substitutes, product development using alternative materials and the health effects associated with asbestos substitutes. Results: Synthetic or natural fibers such as synthetic vitreous fiber, polyamide, attapulgite, sepiolite and wollastonite are known as asbestos substitutes. According to the patents data of the United States and Europe since the 1970s, many asbestos-free products have been developed in a variety of industries. Health hazards of some asbestos substitutes including synthetic vitreous fibers have been evaluated by many experts, however, additional researches are required to be carried out in the future. Conclusions: Alternatives to asbestos are necessary to develop the asbestos-free products. Health hazards for only several asbestos substitutes have been assessed so far and occupational exposure limit has not been established for many asbestos substitutes yet. Therefore, even though workers are handling asbestos-free products, it is recommended to control the working environment well enough in order to minimize the exposure of workers to dusts or fibers caused during the working process.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.360-364
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• 2018

Asbestos has been banned in many countries but many countries, including developing countries, are still using asbestos or materials containing asbestos. Substitute materials have been studied and developed over a long period of time because of the hazards of asbestos, and many people have recently shown interest in the hazards of substitute materials. However, comprehensive information about the types of asbestos substitutes, their use and health hazards, and references for the protection for the health of workers is limited. The purpose of this study is to provide people in the related industries with information on the types and health hazards of fibrous materials that can be used as asbestos substitutes. According to the patent resources from the United States and Europe, fibrous materials have been used to develop asbestos-free products since before 1980. Recently, the health hazards of asbestos substitutes have been assessed and many additional researches are required. However, only some of the substitute materials have been assessed for health hazards, and health hazard data has not been sufficient in many cases. Therefore, efforts should be made to minimize workers' exposure to substitute materials that do not contain asbestos.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-138
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• 2009

Rock wool, a kind of asbestos substitutes, was analyzed for its physicochemical properties. After fivers of rock wool were instilled into rat lungs, These pathological changes were evaluated. In addition, the fibers in the lungs were counted and characterized after the lungs were treated for electron microscopical analysis. The lungs of rats showed pathological lesions such as granulomatous changes, but these lesions disappeared at 28 days groups after instilled rats. The rock wool fibers in the lungs decreased more 50 % after 28 days instilled into rat lungs. And rock wool showed early change in fiber compositions after 3 days compare with chrysotile showed after 7 days instilled into rat lungs. This study showed that the durability of rock wool in the lungs is more milder than chrysotile.