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Review
. 2024 Jul;40(7):398-424.
doi: 10.1177/07482337241246924. Epub 2024 Apr 15.

A review of the mesotheliogenic potency of cleavage fragments found in talc

E Miller  1 , E M Beckett  2 , D Cheatham  3 , C E Comerford  3 , R C Lewis  4 , C Krevanko  5 , N Mandava  6 , J S Pierce  3
Affiliations
Review

A review of the mesotheliogenic potency of cleavage fragments found in talc

E Miller et al. Toxicol Ind Health. 2024 Jul.

Abstract

It has long been recognized that amphibole minerals, such as cleavage fragments of tremolite and anthophyllite, may exist in some talc deposits. We reviewed the current state of the science regarding the factors influencing mesotheliogenic potency of cleavage fragments, with emphasis on those that may co-occur in talc deposits, including dimensional and structural characteristics, animal toxicology, and the most well-studied cohort exposed to talc-associated cleavage fragments. Based on our review, multiple lines of scientific evidence demonstrate that inhaled cleavage fragments associated with talc do not pose a mesothelioma hazard.

Keywords: Mesothelioma; amphibole minerals; cleavage fragments; non-asbestiform; talc; tremolite.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: All of the authors are employed by Benchmark Risk Group LLC, a consulting firm that provides scientific advice to the government, corporations, law firms, and various scientific/professional organizations. Benchmark Risk Group LLC has been engaged by companies involved in asbestos and talc litigation, and four of the authors (EM, EB, RL, and JP) have served and may serve again as experts in future cases. However, the time invested by the authors to write this paper was provided by their employer, and no client of Benchmark Risk Group LLC, or party in litigation requested that this work be performed. No external funding was received for the analysis, the research supporting the analysis, nor the time needed to prepare the article. Furthermore, the work product, including but not limited to the study design, results and conclusions drawn, is exclusively that of the authors, and no party to asbestos or talc litigation reviewed this paper prior to its publication.

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