Quantitative comparison of asbestos and talc bodies in an individual with mixed exposure.
Tissue from an individual with a history of exposure to asbestos and other dust was referred for particulate analysis. The digested material was reviewed by light microscopy to establish the numbers of ferruginous bodies per gram of tissue. Typical asbestos bodies were found at levels consistent with occupational exposure. A second type of elongated ferruginous body was formed on a thicker transparent core which suggested the minerals were sheet silicates. The number of ferruginous bodies with nonasbestos cores was over four times the number of asbestos cored ferruginous bodies. Electron microscopy was used to confirm the core composition of both populations and also to establish the levels of uncoated fibers. The nonasbestos ferruginous bodies were predominantly formed on talc.
Dodson
R F
RF
Department of Cell Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler 75710, USA.
O'Sullivan
M
M
Corn
C J
CJ
Hammar
S P
SP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013627:Talc / Q000032:analysis*
D001194:Asbestos; D013627:Talc