[Organic artificial fibers: properties and toxicity].

Now among asbestos substitutes, the man-made organic fibers (MMOFs) find interesting applications on the industrial side. This class includes aramidic, polyacrylic, polyamides, polyolefins and polyvinylic fibers and it has been listed in category 3 of IARC classification (not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans). The aim of this study is to provide a panoramic regarding the toxicity of MMOFs present on the market according to their chemical-physical properties. Three materials have been taken in to consideration: the polyacrylonitrile (PAN), the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and the Kevlar. Each of them has been observed by the Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy to estimate the morphology and the mean diameter. The obtained mean diameter of fibers is 10.50 microm for the PAN, 16.60 microm for the PVA and 11.61 microm for the Kevlar. The last one presents fibrils having a diameters in the range 0.2-1.6 microm. The ability of the Kevlar to produce fibrils with dimensions less than 1 microm, after abrasion or mechanical stress of other kind, is the cause of numerous studies based on the evaluation of their biosolubility. Finally we show some spectra obtained from the analysis of these fibers through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).