Short communication, Note
Mineral fibres, fibrosis, and asbestos bodies in lung tissue from deceased asbestos-cement workers
M. Albin
; Departments of Occupational Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
L. Johansson
; Departments of Occupational Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
F.D. Pooley
; Institute of Materials, University College, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
K. Jakobsson
; Departments of Occupational Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
R. Attewell
; Departments of Occupational Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
H. Welinder
; Departments of Occupational Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
Abstract
Samples of lung tissue taken from deceased asbestos-cement workers, with (N = 7) and without (N = 69) mesothelioma, and from individually matched controls (N = 96) were examined. The number of asbestos bodies and the grade of fibrosis were determined with light microscopy, and the type, size, and number of fibres with transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The asbestos content was, as expected, higher among the exposed workers than among the controls. Chrysotile was the major fibre type in terms of fibre count. Conversion to fibre mass reversed the pattern to a predominance of amphibole fibres, and accentuated the differences between exposed workers and controls. Duration of exposure and the number of asbestos bodies displayed significant associations with all the singular amphiboles (amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, and anthophyllite), but not with chrysotile. Fibrosis was related to the tremolite content, but not to chrysotile, both among exposed workers and controls. The workers with mesothelioma had higher levels of crocidolite and tremolite than the other asbestos-cement workers.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
152604
URI
Publication date:
15.6.1989.
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