title: Environmental scanning electron microscopy technique to identify asbestos phases inside ferruginous bodies.
abstract: Ferruginous bodies observed in lungs of patients affected by mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pulmonary carcinoma are important to relate the illness to exposure, environmental or occupational, to asbestos. Identification of the inorganic phase constituting the core of the ferruginous bodies, formed around asbestos but also around phases different from asbestos, is essential for legal purposes. Environmental scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to identify the fibrous mineral phase in the core of ferruginous bodies observed directly in thin sections of tissue, without digestion of the biological matrix. Spectra were taken with sequential analyses along a line crossing the core of the ferruginous bodies. By comparing the spectra taken near to and far from the core, the chemical elements that make up the core could be identified.
authors: Department of Science and Technological Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro," Viale Teresa Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Croce
authors: Maya
authors: M
authors: Musa
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Allegrina
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Trivero
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Rinaudo
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001194:Asbestos