Asbestiform
Possessing the properties of asbestos. Minerals of specific chemical compositions can have asbestiform varieties that are fibrous in nature (e.g., crocidolite and amosite are the asbestiform varieties of the amphibole minerals, reibeckite and grunerite; tremolite and actinolite may be either asbestiform or nonasbestiform)

Friable asbestos
Any material containing more than one percent asbestos, and that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure. (May include previously non-friable material which becomes broken or damaged by mechanical force.)

RACM
Regulated Asbestos-Containing Material is (a) friable asbestos material, (b) Category I non-friable ACM that has become friable, (c) Category I non-friable ACM that will be or has been subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting or abrading, or (d) Category II non-friable ACM that has a high probability of becoming or has become crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the forces expected to act on the material in the course of demolition or renovation operations.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the inside lining of the chest cavity. It is usually associated with asbestos exposure.

Cancer Effect Level (CEL)
The lowest dose of chemical in a study, or group of studies, that produces significant increases in the incidence of cancer (or tumors) between the exposed population and its appropriate control.

Vermiculite
A chemically inert, lightweight, fire resistant, and odorless magnesium silicate material that is generally used for its thermal and sound insulation in construction and for its absorbent properties in horticultural applications. Vermiculite mined from Libby, Montana has been demonstrated to contain various amounts of asbestiform tremolite-like amphibole minerals.

Asbestosis
A chronic lung disease, resulting from the scarring of the lung tissues by asbestos fibers.

Alimta (pemetrexed for injection)
Alimta is a new cancer drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is given with cisplatin, another anti-cancer medicine.

Dose-Response Relationship
The quantitative relationship between the amount of exposure to a toxicant and the incidence of the adverse effects.

Pleural effusion
A pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid between the layers of the membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity.