Pulmonary fibrosis in a patient with exposure to glass wool fibers.
Glass wool or vitreous fibers are non-crystalline, fibrous inorganic substances (silicates) made primarily from rock, slag, glass, or other processed minerals. They belong to the man-made mineral fibers (MMMFs) group and their respiratory effects are well described by De Vuyst et al. [1995]. The authors pointed out the absence of firm evidence that exposure to these fibers is associated with lung fibrosis, pleural lesions, or non-specific respiratory disease in humans. Because of this observation, we find it of importance to present a case of interstitial fibrosis, which implies a direct association between long-term exposure to glass wool and the clinical outcome.
Guber
Alexander
A
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Meir General Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel. alexgu@clalit.org.il
Lerman
Shimshon
S
Lerman
Yehuda
Y
Ganor
Eli
E
Trajber
Israel
I
Edelstein
Evgeny
E
Fireman
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; C009753:fiberglass