Refractory ceramic fibres - Evaluation of the carcinogenicity and genotoxicity

At request of the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, the Health Council of the Netherlands evaluates and judges the carcinogenic properties of substances to which workers are occupationally exposed. The evaluation is performed by the subcommittee on Classifying Carcinogenic Substances of the Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Safety of the Health Council, hereafter called the Committee. In this report, the Committee evaluated refractory ceramic fibres. These are defined by the European Commission as “man-made vitreous (silicate) fibres with random orientation with alkaline oxide and alkali oxide (Na2O + K2O + CaO +MgO +BaO) content less or equal to 18% by weight” (see Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008; Index No. 650-017-00-8). The fibres are mainly used for heat resistant isolation applications, and as strengthening material.
The Committee concludes that refractory ceramic fibres are presumed to be carcinogenic to man, and recommends classifying these fibres in category 1B. Based on the available data, the Committee assumes that the fibres act by a non-genotoxic mechanism.

Committee

• R.A. Woutersen, Toxicologic Pathologist, TNO Quality of Life, Zeist; Professor of Translational Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, chairman
• J. Van Benthem, Genetic Toxicologist, National Health Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven
• P.J. Boogaard, Toxicologist, SHELL International BV, The Hague
• G.J. Mulder, Emeritus Professor of Toxicology, Leiden University, Leiden
• Ms. M.J.M. Nivard, Molecular Biologist and Genetic Toxicologist, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden
• G.M.H. Swaen, Epidemiologist, Dow Benelux NV, Terneuzen
• E.J.J. van Zoelen, Professor of Cell Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen
• J.M. Rijnkels, Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, scientific secretary