title: Silicate and metal dust in lungs of Greyhounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the amount of opaque dust in lung specimens increases with age, the composition of that dust, and whether the composition is similar for Greyhounds and pet dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantification of lung particulate dust burdens.
  
  
  METHODS
  192 Greyhounds and 5 pet dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung specimens of 192 Greyhounds and 5 pet dogs were examined for dust accumulation, using light microscopy. Lung specimens from Greyhounds and the 5 pet dogs were analyzed, using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy to quantify the lung burden of inorganic particles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lung dust burden increased linearly with age. Pulmonary dust was composed of aluminum silicates, silica, and 18 metals. Silicate and metal particulate burdens were higher in Greyhounds than in the pet dogs. The 3 most common metals were iron, titanium, and chromium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amount of opaque dust increased with age. The higher pulmonary dust burden in Greyhounds than in pet dogs suggests that environmental exposure is important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schoning
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Burnett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017640:Silicates / Q000032:analysis*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals; D017640:Silicates; D012822:Silicon Dioxide