Mesotheliomas of Animals is the first book to provide a comprehensive compilation of the diverse and often disparate literature regarding animal mesotheliomas. The compendium presents evidence to support the existence of "background" and "threshold," both of which are concepts central to the controversy surrounding nonasbestos-related mesotheliomas. Examples of "background" tumors (those which are nonasbestos-related) are described in detail, and indications of "threshold" for the induction of mesotheliomas following exposure to asbestiform and nonasbestiform agents are evident from the "positive dose-response" studies that are discussed.
This compendium also allows for easy comparison of tumor yields elicited in "inoculation" studies performed with the same fiber types at similar doses. These comparisons often demonstrate markedly different tumor yields and highlight the limitations of injection techniques for fiber safety assessment. Mesotheliomas of Animals will be an essential reference for industrial hygienists, environmental lawyers, cancer researchers, and pulmonary scientists. It will be particularly useful to anyone involved with the design of fiber safety tests or with developing experimental models and protocols to assess the manner in which mesotheliomagenesis occurs.