Journal Top Ten - May 2003

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1 TITLE: "Asbestos Fiber Length as Related to Potential Pathogenicity: A Critical Review"

SUMMARY: A review that considers experimental models used to assess response to various lengths of fibers in animal models, as well as from data obtained during studies of human materials. According to the researchers, the data support the potential for long fibers, as well as short fibers, to contribute to pathological responses. The results should lead to caution in the decision to exclude any population of inhaled fibers, based on length, from possibly contributing to the development of asbestos-related disease.