Dissolution rates and mechanisms of glass fibres in simulated lung fluid were investigated at the pH's characteristic of the major enviornments of short and long fibres in the lung (pH 4.5 and 7.4). Large differences were seen among the samples with compositions typical of glasswool, rockwool, slagwool and textile fibres and refractory ceramic fibres. Most compositions showed larger dissolution rates of modifier species versus network species at the lower pH. The relative dissolution rate of modifers at low versus near-neutral pH ranged from higher rates to lower rates. The comparative values for network species also varied from higher rates to much smaller rates. Alumina levels were positvely correlated with variations in dissolution rate of the network.
