Asbestos bodies and the diagnosis of asbestosis in chrysotile workers

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(86)80024-X· OSTI ID:5804243

Holden, J; Churg, A

It has been suggested that because chrysotile asbestos forms asbestos bodies poorly, use of the traditional histologic requirements (diffuse interstitial fibrosis plus asbestos bodies) for the diagnosis of asbestosis, may lead to an underdiagnosis of this condition in workers exposed only to chrysotile. Lungs from 25 chrysotile miners with diffuse interstitial fibrosis were examined. Asbestos bodies were found easily in histologic section using hematoxylin and eosin stains in all cases. Mineralogic analysis of four cases showed that 46 of 72 (64%) bodies isolated and examined contained chrysotile cores, and 21 of 72 (29%) bodies contained cores of the amphiboles tremolite and actinolite. By contrast, tremolite and actinolite constituted the majority of uncoated fibers in these cases. The mean length for bodies formed on chrysotile was 35 ..mu..m, and for bodies formed on tremolite or actinolite, 36 ..mu..m. The authors conclude that (1) the usual histologic criteria for the diagnosis of asbestos are applicable to chrysotile-exposed workers; (2) in workers with occupational chrysotile exposure, bodies form readily on this mineral; and (3) asbestos bodies in these lungs reflect the presence of long asbestos fibers.

• Research Organization: Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver
• OSTI ID: 5804243
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 39:1; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
BODY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DIAGNOSIS
DIMENSIONS
ETIOLOGY
FIBERS
FIBROSIS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HISTOLOGY
LENGTH
LUNGS
MINERS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PERSONNEL
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM