Analysis of the cores of asbestos bodies from members of the general population: patients with probable low-degree exposure to asbestos

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6851854

Churg, A; Warnock, M L

Asbestos bodies were isolated from the lungs of 21 patients who had 300 to 9000 of such bodies/g of lung tissue, a concentration frequently found in manual laborers in the general population who are not primary asbestos workers. All of the 123 bodies examined by electron diffraction produced diffraction patterns consistent with amphibole varieties of asbestos. Electron microprobe analysis (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) of 46 bodies revealed that 38 of the cores were composed of the commercial amphiboles, amosite and crocidolite, whereas only 8 were composed of the noncommercial amphiboles, anthophyllite and tremolite. Review of the occupations of these patients revealed that all but one had blue-collar jobs. We concluded that commercial amosite/crocidolite asbestos forms the cores of most asbestos bodies in manual laborers in the general population and that the source is usually occupational.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 6851854
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States) Vol. 120:4; ISSN ARRDA
• 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.
AMPHIBOLE
ASBESTOS
BODY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIAGNOSTIC USES
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LUNGS
MINERALS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
ORGANS
POPULATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCATTERING
SPECTROSCOPY
USES
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY