Effect of length on the clearance of fibres from the lung and on body formation

Abstract

Studies of the effect of fibre length on lung clearance have shown that fibres less than 5 micrometers in length are removed more efficiently than are longer fibres. The probability of body formation occurring increases with fibre length. It appears possible that thin fibres of given length are coated less readily than thick fibres, but further work is required to substantiate this.