Refractory ceramic fiber: Toxicology, epidemiology, and risk analyses - A review

Refractory ceramic fiber (RCF) is an energy-efficient, high-temperature ins ulation, used principally in industrial furnaces, heaters, and reactors. Pr ior to the 1980s, there were few publications dealing with the potential he alth effects of this material. However, with the advent of higher energy co sts and the need for thermally efficient high-temperature insulating materi als, production of RCF grew rapidly, as did interest in its potential healt h effects. This article provides a comprehensive and integrated review of t he toxicology (in vitro and in vivo), epidemiology, and risk analysis liter ature of RCF. Based on the available literature, we conclude that an occupa tional exposure of 0.5 fibers per cubic centimeter (cm(3)) [8-h time-weight ed average (8-h TWA)] results in an occupational health risk no greater tha n 9.1 x 10(-5).