title: Determination of asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asbestos bodies (AB), ferroprotein-coated asbestos fiber may be present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asbestos exposed persons. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and number of asbestos bodies in the BALF of tenable asbestos exposed workers compare to general population in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty workers of cement pipe and roof tile factories using chrysotile asbestos and 30 unexposed patients that underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy were included in this study. Determination of asbestos bodies was made by membrane filtration method as described in earlier reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings were positive in six workers and in one control subject (0.1-3.6 vs. 0.2 AB/ml of BALF, p = 0.449).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AB was identified in workers more often than in pulmonary disease patient. Two of workers had more than 1 AB/ml of BALF.
authors: Pimpin
authors: P
authors: Incharoen
authors: Viboon
authors: V
authors: Boonsarngsuk
authors: Katawut
authors: K
authors: Sanitthangkul
authors: Chariya
authors: C
authors: Laohavich
authors: Vorachai
authors: V
authors: Sirikulchayanonta
authors: Somchai
authors: S
authors: Bovornkitti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D009790:Occupations; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos