The biological effects of mineral fibres, especially asbestos, as seen from in vitro and in vivo studies.

Two in vitro models have been extensively used to compare the biological action of different types of asbestos fibres: the haemolytic effect and the cytotoxic one on macrophages grown in cell culture. The use of both techniques as led towards a better understanding of the chemical reactions which occur between fibres and the biological membranes of cells or intracellular organelles. Studies on the prevention of haemolysis and cytotoxicity have also been of use in explaining how asbestos acts a the cellular and molecular levels. Regarding in vivo studies, useful comparisons have been made of the fibrogenic and carcinogenic effects of different types of fibres in man and experimental animals. Both the in vitro and the in vivo aspects of the problem are discussed in some detail and an attemps is made to provide a reasonably unified concept for both.