title: Detection of silica particles in lung tissue by environmental scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: For pathologists, pneumologists, and occupational and environmental physicians it is relevant to know silica levels in lung tissue to better define limits of exposure. Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) has been employed to detect silica particles and to compare silica levels in subjects with and without Lung Cancer (LC). We investigated 25 paraffin-embedded tissue samples of patients with LC adenocarcinoma, and 20 fresh samples of subjects without LC deceased for extra-pulmonary diseases. Silica levels were quantified considering the Number of Spots of silica particles (NS), and the Number of Positive Zones (NPZ) in which there was at least one spot. Levels of NS and NPZ were assessed with Poisson-type regression models, and in two samples of silica-exposed workers with LC the performance of models were evaluated. LC patients displayed higher silica levels, as compared to controls; smoking, age and gender had no significant effects on this relationship. Values of NS and NPZ for the exposed workers were in agreement with model estimates. The fitted model between NS and NPZ might be useful in evaluating new observations and in the development of threshold limit values of silica in biological tissues. ESEM is a rapid, simple and valid tool for the determination of silica levels in lung tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medical Sciences and Special Therapies, Section of Pathology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. ambrogio.fassina@unipd.it
authors.forename: Ambrogio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fassina
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corradin
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Murer
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guolo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montisci
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D012307:Risk Factors; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide