Role of Biopersistence in the Pathogenicity of Man-made Fibers and Methods for Evaluating Biopersistence: A Summary of Two Round-table Discussions

This paper summarizes two roundtable discussions held at the conclusion of the International Conference on Biopersistence of Respirable Synthetic Fibres and Minerals. The first round table addressed the role of biopersistence in the pathogenicity of fiber-induced disease. The panel included T. W. Hesterberg (Chairman), J.M.G. Davis, K. Donaldson, B. Fubini, N.F. Johnson, G. Oberdoerster, P. Sébastien, and D. Warheit. The second panel addressed the issue of methods for assessing biopersistence. It included R.O. McClellan (Chairman), J. Brain, A. Langer, A. Morgan, C. Morscheidt, H. Muhle, and R. Musselman. The two chairmen acknowledge the excellent contributions of all the members of the panels, whose comments formed the basis of this summary. Nonetheless, the authors assume full responsibility for the written text, recognizing that it was not reviewed by the discussants of the two panels.—Environ Health Perspect 102(Suppl 5):277–283 (1994)