Interaction of asbestos fibers with human cells cause lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, whose severity is directly dependent on the cellular phenotypes involved. Details of this process remain largely unknown because of the chemical heterogeneity and morphology of the fibers and the requirement of organic-inorganic analytical means. Indeed, the toxicity of these fibers depends not only on their dimensions, but also on their habit and surface chemistry. Therefore, there are multiple fiber-cell interactions and phenomena making challenging their interpretation. Because of their...