TO TEST THE CARCINOGENIC POTENTIAL OF A SERIES OF ASBESTOS AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS.

THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF TWO TYPES OF EXPOSURE (INTRA-PLEURAL AND INHALATION) OF ANIMALS TO 10 DIFFERENT SUSPECTED DUSTS. THE DUSTS CONSISTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF ASBESTOS, A VARIETY OF MAN-MADE MINERAL FIBRES AND SOME NATURALLY OCCURING MINERAL FIBRES. THE DUSTS STUDIED ARE THOSE SUSPECTED OF PRODUCING PLEURAL TUMOURS (MESOTHELIOMA) OR PULMONARY AND/OR PLEURAL FIBROSIS.

INTRA-PLEURAL IMPLANTATION IS USED FOR EVIDENCE OF MESOTHELIOMA AND OF PLEURAL FIBROSIS; INHALATION STUDIES ARE USED TO ASSESS FIBROSIS AND TO COMPARE THE INCIDENCE OF BENING AND MALIGNANT PULAMNORY TUMOURS.

THE STUDIES ARE CARRIED OUT ON RATS.