Biopersistance

Much industrial research over the last 40 years was directed towards  developing replacement materials for all types of asbestos.

Recent studies on the biopersistance of such substitute fibres will perhaps change the direction of the research.

The potential biological risk to humans of certain substitute fibres has been newly demonstrated by researchers in European laboratories under the direction of Dr. David Bearnstein. Recent and extensive studies on the biopersistance of certain industrial fibres in the lungs of laboratory animals have shown that 50% of the fibres are eliminated naturally within the following time periods :

Formerly, most research and development work on chrysotile was done by Cerminco at Sherbrooke. Today such work is done in other countries except for certain studies concerning serpentine tailings carried on at Laval University at Quebec City.

Governments in producing regions should support research and development in order to create a favourable economic climate for the implantation of factories producing chrysotile based products and for the valorization of mine tailings.

In addition the "Centre de technologie minérale et de plasturgie du Collège général et professionnel de Thetford " located at Thetford Mines, should because of its expertise in plastics and mineral processing, receive the resources to develop new chrysotile based plastics and calcinated serpentine based mineral forms.

Approaches have been made to various government authorities in order to resume research and development on chrysotile.